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WRITTEN EXFRESSLY FOR THIS WORK. 

ALSO, 



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ENGRAVINGS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW VARIETIES, ETC. 



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UTICA, K Y. 



Entered according to Aot of Congress, in the year A. D. 1870, by GEO. W. BEST, in the Clerk's 
Office of the United States Court lor the Northern District of New Yorlt. 




J 



i^C^>^I — ^c 



^ ***'** - ** — * C3>^ — -"^ — x^^^ 



iljo B\oK, SONb JiCo, Ltth., Piintlnj & Srinufac's Co., Buffalo, N. T, 



Offer the following Collections of Plower Seeds by Mail. 

accommodation of those who love the cultivation of Flowers, but who reside at a dis- 
ji where they can be procured, we have selected from our large assortment of Flower 
lie most showy varieties, and those of f asy culture, and put them up in assortments, which 
e sent postpaid to any address in the Union at the following prices : 

mmO. 1 — Contains Twenty choice varieties of Annuals, $1 oo 

No. 2 — Contains Twenty choice varieties of Biennials and Perennials, 1 oO 

No. 3 — Contains Tfen extra varieties of Annuals and Perennials, embracing many of the 

new and choicest in cultivation, 1 oo 

No, 4 — Contains Five v^ry choice varieties, selected from Prize Flowers, of English Pan- 

sies, German, Carnation and Picotee Pinks, Verbenas, Truffaut's French Asters, 

Double Hollyhocks, 1 oO 

Any one remitting $3 OO'will receive the four assortments postage free. 

The above collections have been favorably known in every section of the country for the past 
fifteen years. Those who have tested them recommend them freely to their friends, and the most, 
satisfactory reports are continually received of their good quality. The following additional as- 
sortments will also be sent at the prices annexed, free of postage: 

No. 5 — Contains Fifteen very select varieties of Greenhouse Seeds, $3 00 

No. 6— Contains One Hundred varieties of Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, including 

many new and choice varieties, 5 00 

No. 7 — Contains Fifty varieties of Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, 2 50 

No. 8— Contains Twenty varieties of Hardy Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, for sowing 

in the Autumn, 1 00 



COLLECTIONS OF VEGETABLE SEEDS BY MAIL, 

For Spping Planti.mg. — 15 varieties, our selection, $1 00; 33 varieties, our selection 
$2 00 ; 55 varieties, in larger packets, $3 50. 

The above contain the leading varieties usually grown in our gardens. To those who desire 
larger quantities, we would recommend Collection No. 1, at $20 ; No. 2, at $15 ; No. 3, at 
$10, No. 4, at $5, which can be safely forwarded by express to all parts of the world. A list of 
the contents of each collection will be found in the Fourteenth Rlition of our New Catalogue 
and "Guide to the Flower and Kitchen Garden," for a description of which see page 2. Freight 
ON all packages by express to be paid by the purchaser, unless by special agreement. 



Comstock's New Horticnltnral Implements. 

Patent Secured. 

Comstock's Hand Cultivator and Onion Weeder will do the work of six men with 
hoes. It is the only implement thut pttlls the weeds and thoroughly pulverises the soil. As much 
superior to the hoe for all small drill crops as the mowers and reapers are to the scythe and cradle. 
Price, %9 00. Boxing 20 cts. 

Comstock's Seed Sower. — The neatest and most perfect small seed sower yet invented — 
sowi ng Beet, Parsnip, and other difficult seeds with the greatest regularity ; combined with the 
Cultivator and Weeder and can be separated in five minutes. Price, $15 00. Boxing 35 cts. 

Comstock's Strawberry Cutter, for removing Strawberry Runners, cultivating between 
the rows at the same time — with the Cultivator and Weeder combined. 

Price, $12 00. Boxing 20 cts. 

Comstock's "Weeding Hook. — A little steel instrument with a hook at each end, one pointed 
and the other cleft, for hand-weeding, and is just the thing for Ladies in the Flower Garden. 

The Set Complete $18 50; Boxing 35 cts. 

B. K. BLISS & SON, Sole Agents for New York. 

HEXAMEB'S PRONG HOE, (Patented.) 

This new implement is the result of a series of experiments at the Nursery and Fruit Farm of 
Messrs. Reisig & Hexamer, to supply the great want of a tool for saving a considerable amount of 
1 ibor at a small outlay, and doing the work as perfect as possible. It has proved a perfect success — 
The work can be done much quicker and in a more thorough manner than it can be accomplished 
with ordinary tools. 

The making of the Hoe was originally intended only for their own special use ; but after the 
severe, extensive, and comjiletely satisfactory tests of an entire season, they thought it too valuable 
for general application, and concluded to let the public share in its great usefulness. 

The highest premium, in the Horticultural Department of the Great American Institute Fair of 
1867, was awarded to it. The New York Times, of October 29, 1867, in speaking of this Fair, says : 

Improved Prong Hoe. — This is a six-tined Hoe, exhibited by Reisig & He.xamer, New 
Castle, N. Y ; neatly made of the best of steel, having six tines, about eight inches long and two 
inches apart. Each pair of tines is independent of the other, all being secured by an iron key 
driven into a mortise through a malleable iron head, which receives the upper part of the tines. A 
socket in the head receives the handle, which is about the size of a hoe-handle. 

This implement subserves the purpose of a hoe and rake. It is an excellent tool tor pulverizing 
the soil between rows of all kinds of growing plants and for rooting up small weeds ; and it is a 
wonderful improvement on Hand Potato Diggers, As the tines are long, small, and strong, they 
pass through the soil with the application of less force than is required to work the old style of 
diggers. Price, $1 50 each. 

For Sale at Wholesale or Retail by 

B. K. BLISS & SON, 41 Park Row, New York. 



/ 



SB 211 
.P8 B56 
Copy 1 



RURAL BOOKS 




FARM, GARDEN, / 



HOUSEHOLD. 

l^^ Any Book on this list will 
be forwarded by mail, post-paid, to 
any address in the United States or 
Territories, on receipt of the j)ric<'. 




A,i;Ticultural Chemical Analysis (Caldwell). $2 00 

Allen's (L. F.) American Cattle 2 50 

Allen's New American Farm Book 3 50 

Allen's (R. L.) Diseases of Dom. Animals.. 1 00 
American Agricultural Annual, pa. 50, clo. . 75 
American Ilorticultiual Annual, pa. 50, clo 75 

American Pomology (Warder) ."00 

American Wi'cds and Useful Plants 1 75 

Bement's Rabbit Fancier SO 

Bommer's Method of Making Manures 25 

Book of Evergreens (Hoopes) 9 00 

Boussingault's Rural Economy 1 (iO 

Breck's New Book of Flowers 1 75 

Buist's Flower Garden Directory 1 .50 

Buist's Family Kitchen Gardener 1 00 

Copeland's Country Life, 8vo, cloth 5 00 

Cotton Culture (Lyman) 1 .50 

Dadd's (G. IL) Modern Horse Doctor 1 .50 

Dadd's American Cattle Doctor 1 .50 

Dana's Muck Manual 1 25 

Darwin's Variation of Animals and Plants 

under Domestication, 2 vols (i 00 

Downiug's Fruits and Fruit Trees, revised 

and greatly enlarged, octavo 1123 pages. 7 50 

Downing's Landscape Gardening (i 50 

Draining for Profit and Health 1 50 

Eastwood on Cranberry 75 

Elliott's Western Fruit-Grower's Guide 1 50 

Farm Implements and Machinery (Thomas) 1 .50 

Flax Culture 50 

French's Farm Drainage 1 .50 

Field's (Thos. \V.) Pear Culture 1 25 

Fuller's Grape Culturist 1 .50 

Fuller's Small Fruit Culturist 1 50 

Fuller's Strawbeny Culturist 20 

(iardeniug for the South (W. N. White). . . . 2 00 
Guenon on Milch Cows 75 



to Veg. E\'. Clo. 4 00 

for Profit 1 50 

. . 1 50 
. . 1 75 
.. 2 00 
... 2 00 
.. 1 00 



Harris's Insects Injuri( 
Henderson's Gardeniu 
Henderson's Practical Floriculturt 
Herbert's Hints to Horse-Keepers. 

How Crops Grow (Jolmson) 

How Ci-ops Feed do 

Hunter and Trappei- 

Leuchar's How to Build Hot-houses 1 .50 

Market Assistant (De Voe) 2 50 

Miles on the Horse's Foot 75 

Mohr on the Grape-vine l 00 

My Vineyard at Lakeview 1 25 

Pardee on Strawberry Culture 7.5 

Peat and its Uses 1 2n 

Pedder's Land Measur:'r 60 

Percheron Horse 1 QQ 

Practical Poultry Keeper (Wright) 2 00 

Quiuby's Mysteries of Bee-keeping 1 50 

Randall's Sheep Husbandry 1 .50 

Randall's Fine Wool Sheep Husbandry 1 00 

Rivers' Miniature Fruit-garden 1 00 

Saunders' Domestic Poultry, pa. 40, cloth. . 75 

Schenck's Gardener's Text-lxxik 75 

Skillful Housewife 75 

Thompson's Food of Animals 1 00 

Tim Bunker Papers l .50 

Tobacco Culture 25 

Warder's Hedges and Evergreens 1 50 

Woodward's Cottages and Farm-houses 1 50 

Woodward's Suburban and Country Houses 1 

Woodward's Country Homes 1 

Wheeler's Rural Homes 2 

Wheeler's Homes for tlie Peopli- ;j 00 

Youatt on Sheep 1 OO 

Youatt and Spooner on the Horse l .50 

Youatt and Martin on Cattle 1 50 

Youatt on the Hog l 00 



50 
50 
00 




SPECIAL. 

Woodward's National Architect, New.. 12 00 



PUBLISHED AND FOK SALK AT 

243 Broadfrai/^ 

NEW Y R K 



ORANGE JUDD & CO. 




1 km 

THE BEST 



For the Family, 

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Tor Fathers, ,^ 

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Ministers, 

Lawyers, 

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For Rich, 

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For the Farmer, 
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'"^^ For Girls, 
YoungWomen, 
Traders, 
Mechanics, 
Doctors, 
Students, 
^Poets, 
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S^\ Engravers, 




FOK THE 

FARM, GARDEN, AND HOUSEHOLD 

Including a Special Interesting 
and Instructive Department for 
Childrfen and Youth. 
ESTABLISHED IN 1842. 
7/ The A gricuUurist is a large periodical of 3 
/ / to 44 pages.well printed, and filled with plax 
practical, reliable original matter, includ _ 
mnilii'ils of beautiful and instructive En 
rnviiiss in every annual volume. 
contains each month a Calendar of Operations 
be iH 111111111.1 on the Farm, in the Orchard ani" 
Garden, in Hic Dwelling, etc. 

It is I ill ) '1 I'v 1 practical intelligent -woekino men 

The Household Department is valuable to every 

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riie Department for Children and Youth is pre 

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ilcate knowledge and sound moral principles. 

ireulalion— Terms The circulation of the American 

iRicuLTURisT (about 150.000) is so large that it can be fur 
ed for the low price of Si.50 a year; four copies for 
ten copies for $12 ; twenty or more, $1 each ; single num 
|15 cents each. ICr" TRY IT A YEAR. 



ORANGE JUDD & CO., 245 BROADWAY, NEW-YORK CITY. 

(See other side.) 



•T^ 





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FURNISHES 

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ENGRAVINGS, 

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FIVE HUNDRED 

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ORANGE JUDD & CO., 245 BROADWAY, NEW-YORK CITY. 

(See other side.) 



BUILDING BLOCKS FOE, CHILDBEN 



CAN BE MADE INTO 



CHURCHES, 

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TOWERS, 

ARCHES, 

CHAIRS, 

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SLEDS, 



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and other forms in almost endless variety, and when finished, the structure remains firm, so that it 
can be carried about witliout falling to' pieces. Having given these blocks a practical trial in their 
own families, the publishers of the J.menc«;!, AgriculturM Avere so -well pleased with them that they 
consented to take tlie general agency for their sale. 

Tlie blocks are put up in neat, strong l)oxes, and a large sheet giving various designs of build- 
ings, etc., accompanies each box. Price: Plain, No. 1, $2.00; No. 3, $1.00. 

Orders are solicited from the trade, who will be supplied on liberal terms. Address 

ORANGE JUDD & COMPANY, 

245 Broadway, New York. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In the fall of 1868, we offered Five Hundred Dollars, in four different premiums, 
to persons who should raise the four largest quantities of "Early Rose" Potatoes 
from one peck of seed. This amount was divided as follows: For the first or largest 
yield, $200; second, $150; third, $100; fourth, $50. This offer was made subject to 
the following conditions: 

1st. The seed to be purchased of us this fall, (1868). 

2d. Each account to be well authenticated, and accompanied with a full report as 
to the character of the soil, manner of cutting the seed and planting, cultivation, the 
kind of manure used, (if any,) the quantity used, and the manner of applying it. 

3d. The crop must be dug at least ten days before weighing, and report sent to us 
by October 1st, 1869, with a statement of the exact number of bushels raised, (60 fos. 
to the bushel. ) 

4th. Potatoes to be grown in open air, and without artificial heat. 

Since the above offer was made, we have received many requests from our customers 
to publish the reports of competitors for the premiums, and believing that they con- 
tained a large amount of information which would be truly valuable to farmers and 
potato growers, we decided to comply with their requests. 

It is well known that during the past two years the most intense excitement has 
prevailed in regard to the Potato, and fabulous prices have been paid for seed of new 
varieties, which, it was hoped, would more than take the place of the old kinds, 
which were rapidly failing, both in point of quality and productiveness. As a natural 
consequence, the enormous prices at which the " Early Rose" and other new varieties 
were selling, induced potato growers, in all parts of the country, to put upon the 
market seedling potatoes, of their own raising, nine-tenths of which were entirely 
worthless, and were offered for the sole purpose of making money. On the other 
hand, many new varieties have been introduced, which have proved really valuable 
acquisitions, and these have found a ready market among the most intelligent and 
progressive class of our agricultural community. Thousands of experiments have 
been made in as many different parts of the land, by as many different men, and in 
as many different ways, in different modes of cutting the seed, planting, cultivating, 
various kinds of manure used, different methods of applying them, and in many other 
particulars, too numerous to mention here. In view of these facts, we thought that 
an interesting article on " The Potato Mania," would be an agreeable addition to our 
" Potato Book," and accordingly made arrangements with Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, 
to write the essay on this subject which appears in its pages. In addition to Mr. 
Beecher's article, and the "Reports of Competitors," we give illustrations and 
descriptions of the most prominent and worthy new varieties, and a number of choice 
selections from the Agricultural Press, relative to potato culture. 

We hope that this unpretending little volume may prove not only interesting, but 
really instructive, to every farmer into whose hands it may be placed, and that it may 
accomplish some good, by aiding potato growers, in every section of the land, in 
bringing the cultivation of this indispensable esculent to a higher state of perfection. 

GEO. W. BEST. 

UTICA, N. Y., December, ISCO. 



SEED POTATOES -NEW A^ARIETIES, 

FOR SALE AT WHOLESALE OK RETAIL, BY 

B. lE^. BLISS & sonsr, 

Nos. 41 Park Row and 151 Nassau St., 

BRESEE'S CELEBRATED SEEDLINGS. Per Peck. Bush. Bbl. 

Bresee's King; of the Earlies, or No. 4.— This is, without exception, the 
earliest variet}' in cultivation, having been carefully tested by many promi- 
nent agriculturists in various parts of the country "the past season, and by 
them pronounced from tive to ten days earlier than the celebrated Early 
Rose and fullv its equal in quality, productiveness and general appearance. 
Two pounds, by mail, postpaid, Sl.OO, $5.00 Slo.OO $40.00 

Early Kose. — This was the lirst of Mr. Bresee's Seedlings, offered by us in 
January, isiis, and has now been before the iiul)lic lor the past two seasons, 
during which it has attained a popularity unrivalled in the history of the 
Potato. It has now become the standard variety for earliness, quality and 
productiveness. Its average yield, as far as heard from the past Summer, 
has been from 80 to 110 barrels to the acre. Four pounds, by mail, $1.00 - 1.00 2.50 5.00 

Bresee's Prolific. — An illustration and full description of this valuable va- 
riety, and also of the "King of the Earlies," will be found on another page 
of this Ijook. Four pounds, by mail, $1.00, - ... - 1.50 4.00 9.00 

Bresee's Peerless, or No. 6. — The latest and best of all Mr. Bresee's Seed- 
lings for the main crop. This is also a seedling of the Garnet Chili, and 
originated from the same seed ball as the Early Rose; skin dull white, 
occasionally russet ed; eyes shallow, oblong; flesh white, mealy; grows to a 
large size, often weighing from one and a half to two pounds, and enor- 
mously productive. At a trial before a committee of the IMassachusetts 
Horticultural Society, in September last, this variety obtained more votes 
as to quality than any other of Bresee's Seedlings. Per pound, by mail, 

$1.00, -10.00 30.00 75.00 

NEW EUROPEAN VARIETIES. 
The following varieties have been sent us by our correspondent, and recommended as the most 

desirable of all the varieties recently introduced : 

Patterson's Golden Don, I Circassian Kidney, 

Patterson's Early Don, Ashtop Fluke, 

Dr. Bretoneau, I Kaspberry-Leaved, very curious foliage. 

Two pounds of either of the above six varieties will be mailed, postjtaid, upon receipt of Si. 00. 
MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES. 

Prices subject to variations in the market. Orders will be executed at the lowest 

market prices at the date of their receipt. 

Per Peck. Bush. Bbl. 

Climax.— A seedling raised by D. S. HefFron, from the Early Goodrich. Eyes 
shallow; skin medium thickness, considerably netted or russet, tough, white; 
flesh entirely white, solid, heavy, brittle, and it boils through quickly; is 
mealy, of floury whiteness, and of superior table quality. In productiveness 
it is fully equal, if not superior, to either the Early Rose or the Early Goodrich, 
while it's keeping qualities are as good as the Peachblow. Ten days later 
than Early Rose ; free from rot. We consider this a most valuable variety 
for culture at the South, 1.50 4.00 9.00 

Early Mohawk. — A new variety introduced last Spring, which has been 
extensively tried the past season, in almost every section of the country, 
with the most satisfactory results. It ripens a few days later than the Early 
Rose, is of strong growth, productive, cooks drv and mealv, and is of excel- 
lent quality, - - - - ■- - ■ - - - 2.00 7.00 15.00 

London White. — Flesh snowy white, cooks mealy, of good flavor, moderately 

productive, ripens with the Early Rose; a good, early market variety, - 1.00 3.00 6.00 

Early Dimick.— A new variety which originated in Oregon, where it is con- 
sidered the best early variety for the market. Early, productive, and of 
good quality, o.OO 6.00 12.00 

Massasoit. — A new variety from Western Massachusetts, resembling the 
Harison in appearance, but earlier and of much better quality; flesh white, 
cooks dry and mealy, and altogether a superior variety ; strongly recom- 
mended for a general crop, _..__.. 1.50 4.00 8.00 

Excelsior. — A new variety, first sent out last Spring, and described by the 
raiser as very productive, handsome and well shaped; cooks white and dry, 
is well flavored; a superior table variety, and retains its good qualities 
through the entire season, ....... 2.OO 7.00 15.00 

POTATOES BY MAIL. 

For the accommodation of those who reside at a distance from railvoads and express offices, we 
will send a package containing four pounds of cither of the above under the head of Miscellaneous 
Varieties, postpaid, upon receipt of one dollar, or six packages for five dollars. No less than one 
dollar's worth, or more than one kind in a package, will be sent by mail. 

N. B. — Orders for Potatoes, received in the Winter, will be forwarded as early in the Spring as 
the weather will permit, usually about the first of Ajiril. They can be forwarded earlier if desired, 
at the risk of the purchaser. 



THE 



POTATO MAI^IA, 



HENRY WARD * B E E C H E R 



Written expressly for "Best's Potato Book." 



^'OMETIME during tlie winter- of 1868-60, happening into tlie 
^ seed store of 13. K, Bliss & Son, in New York, we fell, as 



"V^* usual, into a talk about Seeds, Flowers, Farming, &e. An 



amateur farmer is fond of such like topics; real farmers are not 
averse to them. The potato came in, of course, for its share, 
and then it was that Mr. Bliss mentioned the "Fifty Dollar 
Potato," ("Bresee's King of the Earlies," or his "Seedling No. 
4.") The " Earh^ Rose" had not 3'et spent its force; it was sold 
by the pound, and at what seemed extravagant prices, but the 
"Early Rose," at its highest price, was cheap compared with 
Bresee's new "Fift}^ Dollar Potato." For a single tuber. Fifty 
Dollars! My father had brought up a large family in Old Con- 
necticut, on a salary of ElyM Iluudred Dollars a year. lie some 
times dabbled a little in farming. I recollect once, on his return 
home from a journey, to have heard him gently chide ni}- mother 
for not accepting an offer of twenty-five cents a bushel for a large 
field of potatoes which we had that year cultivated. He thought 
she had missed a chance that would not come again. There were 
about two hundred bushels. If any man had then said that 
witliin a few years a sinrjle potato would sell for the price of two 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



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BUCKEYE 

Mower and Self-Eaking Reaper. 




Mower at Work. ' Seaper at Work. 

LlllB 1 HI HISHlil f IIHIIMS 

At the Most Important Field Trials ever held in any Country. 



PERFECTION 



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Construction. 



JHower on tin- Mood. 

ITS GREAT DURABILITY IS THOROUGHLY ESTABLISHED 

AND IT IS EVERY WUERE RECOGNIZED A3 

The Leading Harvester of tlie Country. 

The HIGH STANDARD of EXCELLENCE in MATERIAL AND WORK- 
MANSHIP MAINTAINED, and VALUABLE IMPROVE- 
MENTS ADDED. 

ADRIANCE, PLATT & CO. 

Manufactory, Poughkeepsie. Office and Warehouse, 165 Greenwich St., N. Y. 



THE POTATO MANIA. 



hundred bushels, be would have been laughed to scorn. Why! 
sixteen fifty dollar potatoes would have equaled the ivhole salary 
of the Litchfield pastor! Here would be a task worthy of an 
economist, to bring up eight or ten children on the value of 
sixteen potatoes a year! 

But this was an exceptional case, every one will say. No 
potato was ever worth fifty dollars, nor ever will be. Why not? 
If an article is put upon the market quietly, without puflSng or 
misrepresentation, and fifty sober, practical men, who earn their 
money by the hardest, and part with it only on good reasons, are 
willing to pay fifty dollars for a single tuber, on what ground is 
it said to be not worth that sum? Not, certainl}', for immediate 
culinary purposes. A dish of fifty dollar potatoes on the table 
for vegetables, ought to have "the Duke's Merino Ram" for the 
meat; — the story running that, having \ivad five hundred guineas iov 
a Merino, he sent it home with word to the steward to prepare 
dinner for some friends that he purposed bringing. The steward, 
ignorant of the value of the animal, had him killed and served 
for dinner. This was the costliest bit of mutton, we suspect, that 
ever passed a Duke's lips — or a King's either; but Oh! if he had 
had fifty-dollar-a-piece potatoes at the same time ! That Merino 
Ram was not worth five hundred guineas on the dinner table, but 
might he not be worth much more than that as the father of a 
long line of posterity? What a potato is worth in the dish, is one 
thing, and what it is worth in the field, is another. A farmer could 
afford to give a hundred dollars apiece for a few potatoes that were 
in quality as good as the "Mercer," and twice as productive. A 
potato like the "Early Rose," admirable in quality, productive, 
and ten days earlier than former sorts, was worth, to the originator 
of it, a small fortune,' and he ought to have made one, though 
we doubt if he ever did; for, in this much mismanaged world, 
inventors seldom make fortunes, and originators of new comestible 
articles see others making the money, and have themselves to be 
contented with a mere reputation; an excellent thing in its way, 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



COLLin^S c5c co/s 



P»^TE]VT 




ASI eiBf^STllIi llil 



MOH-ES TH-A^KO" 100,000 

Of these Plows are now in use, and in EVERY INSTANCE liave given perfect 

satisfaction. 

They are made by pouring Molten Cast Steel into moulds of the exact shape re- 
quired for the Mouldboards, Landsides and Shares. They are then highly tempered^ 
ground and polished. 

Every Plow is warranted to "scour" in the most difficult or sticky soil 

For full description and prices, 



JLX)IDE,ESS 



COLLIlSrS & CO., 



212 Water Street, New Yorko 



THE POTATO MANIA. 



but not negotiable for goods and commodities, or discounts. 
Nature is very shy of trusting men with too much power. If she 
blesses one with genius, she is apt to hold back a little in the 
matter of common sense. If she sets up a man in ideas and in- 
ventive qualities, she gives to somebody else the money-making 
tact; and on the .other hand, if she sets up a man with great skill 
to make and keep money, she does not think it right to give him 
everything, and so she is apt to keep back a considerable part of 
the heart, and of that disposition which produces happiness. That 
is one reason why we find so many men that are rich and wretched. 
But all this does not alter the fact that an inventor of a good 
machine, the originator of a new fruit, the patient experimenter 
who brings out a better vegetable than was in market before, 
deserves an ample fortune. If Mr. Bresee's diligence in im- 
proving the potato has given to millions a better article, to 
gardeners an earlier and more productive one, he has increased 
the wealth of the country immensely, and he ought to share 
in that wealth. But only by a large price for one or two years, 
can he secure any adequate remuneration for his toil. 

AVe have an illustration on the adverse side of this trade, in the 
example of that Father of modern potatoes, the Rev. Chauncey E. 
Goodrich, (of Utica, N. Y.) Although a clergyman, and faithful 
to his duties as Chaplain of the New York State Lunatic Asylum, 
he gave to the study of Nature a mind well adapted to close ob- 
servation, endowed with that patience and culture which science 
demands. About the year 1843 it was, that the potato disease 
broke out in such alaniiing proportions in England, and afterwards 
in America. It seemed for a while as if potato culture had come 
to an abrupt termination. All the old ajid established sorts, of 
vigorous constitutions and without signs of feebleness, were sud- 
denly a prey to this plague. The loss in Great Britain was esti- 
mated in some years as high as ffty millions of dollars, ($50,000,000,) 
and between five and six millions a j'ear, for some 3'ears, in the 
United States. 80 great was this pecuniary loss in some countries 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



Agents Wanted ! 15th Thousand now ready. 

A Book of Great Value to Farmers, Mechanics and Workingmen of all Trades and Occupations 



THE! 



Farmers' and Mechanics' Manual 

WITH JlLdJVr VALUABLE TABLES, 

For Machinists, Manufacturers, Merchants, Engineers, Masons, Painters, Plumbers 
Gardeners, Accountants, &.c. 

By W. S. COURTNEY, and GEO. E. WARING, Jr., 

AUTHOR OF "elements OF AGRICULTURE," "DRAINING FOR PROFIT AND FOR HEALTH," "EARTH 
CLOSETS— HOW TO MAKE AND HOW TO USE THEM;" AND FORMERLY AGRICUL- 
TURAL ENGINEER OF CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK. 



WITH 200 PRACTICAL ILLUSTKATIONS AND OUTLINES. 



[Extract from the Autfwr's Preface.] 
Those wlio consult this book must remember that it is not a book of recipes or prescriptions, 
but for the most part a work of facts and figures— assured analysis and demonstrations, about which 
there can be no dispute. The design was to produce a work of substantial and enduring value, and 
of universal application and use. * * * To sum up, then, this book is offered as containing 
more that has been proven by long use to be of value, more that is most necessary for every farmer 
and mechanic to know, and more of promising novelty, than any other that has ever been presented 
to the farmers and mechanics of America. It is complete in every particular in which it is possible 
for such a book to be complete ; and, in addition to this, it is sufficiently suggestive in many other 
respects to induce its readers to read more, to think more, to experiment more, and to become more 
intelligent and more successful in the management of their business, as well as really happier and 
wiser men. 

A Book of Solid Worth and Practical Utility. "Worth its Weight in Gold." 



Every ARTISAN needs it. 

Every BUILDER needs it. 

Every CARPENTER needs it. 

Every DAIRYMAN needs it. 

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Every FARMER needs it. 

Every GARDENER needs it. 

Every HOUSEHOLD needs it. 

Every IRON WORKER needs it. 

Every JOURNEY.MAN needs it. 

Every KEEPER OF ACCOUNTS needs it. 

Every LAWYER needs it. 

Every MECHANIC needs it. 



Every NAVIGATOR needs it. 
Every OWNER OF STOCK needs it. 
Every PAINTER needs it. 
Every QUARRY'MAN needs it. 
Every REAL ESTATE OWNER needs it. 
Every STOCK RAISER needs it. 
Every TANNER needs it. 
Every UNDERWRITER needs it. 
Every VINF, (;U<»WER needs it. 
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It is comjirised in one large Octave Volume, of over five hundred pages and two hundred 
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Extra English Cloth, Gilt Back, 
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yyanfed Farmers, jyfechanics. Teachers and Workbiff Men and 
Women FreryH'here, to sell t?iis Work. 

E. B. TREAT & CO., Publishers, 654 Broadway, N. Y. 



THE POTATO MANIA. 9 



— Ireland for instance — the potato was so nearly the only staff of 
life, that the food of the poorer portion of the population was re- 
duced to the famine point. Now the value of the potato crop was so 
great that men looked on with dread at its prospective annihilation. 

"We have not at hand the statistics of the United States for the 
years 1840 and 1850, but in 1860 the census computes the potato 
crop of the United States at nearly one Imndred and ten millions 
of bushels. 

Two years later, the Department of Agriculture put it at one 
hundred and fourteen million bushels; but calling it one hundred 
and twelve millions, at twenty-five cents a bushel, it would reach 
a value of twenty-eight millions of dollars. This is an enormous 
sum to be wiped out of the agricultural exchecquer in a single 
year, and every j'ear. 

Moved b^' considerations of patriotism, Mr. Goodrich turned to 
account his habit of observation and experiment in the vegetable 
kinffdom. Instead of seeking; for the convalescence of old varie- 
ties, he believed that the true road out of the danger lay in the 
direction of a renewal of the stock from original sotirces, and to this, 
being now relieved from a pastoral charge, he devoted himself 
with singular intelligence and industry. The potato is indigenous 
to the tropical mountain regions of South America. It flourishes 
best on the table-lands of the Andes. There is no winter of cold 
there, and yet the elevation makes the ground cool and moist. 
Mr. Goodrich, in 1843, at an enpense of two hundred dollars, pro- 
cured some potatoes from Chili. From 1843, until the time of his 
death in 1863, he raised not less than sixteen thousand seedlings. 
There are few instances on record, of zeal so disinterested, chiefl}' 
in two respects. First, in that he would not permit himself to be 
imposed upon in the judgment which he placed ujjon the merits 
of his seedlings — remorselessly sacrificing almost the whole of 
them, sifting and reducing the number to some seventy, and ulti- 
matel}^ to some eight or ten, which, by a wide and generous 
distribution, he had caused to be tested over the breadth of the 



10 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



This Potato was sent to all sections of the country last Spring for trial, and hav- 
ing been most thoroughly tested, I have no hesitation in oftering it to the public as be- 
ing the 

EARLIEST OF THE EARLY, 

of large yield and superior quality. From the large number of Testimonials re- 
ceived from disinterested and -well known Agriculturists from all sections of the 
country, I claim that 

It is without an equal in all the new varieties offered to the public, 

all of which will be substantiated by circular, sent by mail, on application. 

I would also respectfully refer to 

Wm. Parry, Cinnaminson, N. J. Professor J. F^rckmons, Rome, Ga. W. I. Bishop, Ports- 
mouth, Va. G. W. Bradley & Son, Hamden, Conn. S. H. Howe, President Worcester Co. Agricul- 
tural Society, Bolton, Ma-ss. Gerard C. Brown, Crotcn Falls, N. Y. James W. Underhill, Probate 
Judge, Canton, Stark Co., Ohio. Charles Young, President Forrest Grove Agricultural Society. 
Gloucester Co., N. J. G. S. Stevens, President Lincoln Agricultural Society, Lincoln, Sussex Co., Del. 
AVm. Sanders, United States Experimental Gardens, Washington. D. C. A. W. Marshall, President 
Metuchin Agricultural Society, Metuchin, N. J. Daniel Needham, Secretary .of New England Ag- 
ricultural Society, Groton, Mass. A. T. Stork, Secretary Burlington Co. Agricultural Society, Bur- 
lington, N. J. Burton A. Thomas, President Rensselaer Co. Agricultural Society, Sandlake, N. Y. 
W. L. Hope, Shrewsbury, N. J. G. J. Polhemus, Woodhull, Mich. E. McCarty, Tuscola, 111. Pro- 
fessor Cook, N. J. Experimental Farm, New Brunswick, N. J. Thomas Dowd, President East Hartford 
Agricultural Society, Conn. John A. Warder, Cincinnati, Ohio. L. Woodward, President Pontiac 
Agricultural Society, Rochester, Mich. Charles H. Allen, Secretary Horticultural Society, Platts- 
ville, Wis. Joseph Baily, President Perry Co. Agricultural Society, New Bloomfield, Pa. Jefferson 
Rainey, President St. Clair Co. Agricultural Society, Bellville, 111. J. B. Hutchings, President lona 
Agricultural Society, Mich. Allen D. Morgan, President Cayuga Co. Agricultural Society, Auburn 
N. Y. John Duncan, President Shelby Co. Agricultural Society, Sidney, Ohio. Zodock Townsend 
President, New Castle Co. Agricultural Society, Del. 



Price, SIS per Barrel; $7 per Bushel; S2 per Peck, delivered in 

New York. 



s. IB. coisro"\rEi^, 



260 & 261 "West Washington Market, foot of Fulton St., 

NEW YORK. 



THE POTATO MANIA. 11 



whole North, from Canada, to Virginia; and secondly, in that he 
worked ont his benevolent labors to the end of his life, without 
turning his industry to his own profit. He was so busy with his 
exi^eriments that he had no time to make money. After his death, 
his books, which were closely kept, showed that what with pre- 
miums and honorary' gratuities, together with sales, he had a balance 
to his credit of fifty dollars, for twenty years of unremitting in- 
dustry. Surely the name of Goodrich should be enrolled among 
the saints of agriculture! 

Goodrich was the pioneer and patriarch of the New Kingdom 
of Potatoes; but his scholars have carried forward his work 
to a point of financial success that he himself never attained, 
and have reaped a rich remuneration. One can but wish that 
fortune had thrown part of its mercies upon the devoted cler- 
g3^man, the last year of whose life would have suftered from 
pinching poverty but for a timely donation (by a few friends 
of Agriculture, who chanced to learn of his narrow circumstances) 
of some seven hundred dollars. We have no such instance of 
disinterested devotion to science, and to practical economy in the 
annals of American husbandr}^ The two essays which Mr. Good- 
rich has left are masterly, and ought to become a part of the 
Classics of Husbandry. Besides these, his writings on this spe- 
cialt}', Mr. Goodrich contributed over one hundred and thirty 
articles to various agricultural journals. It may be said that the 
potato has now a literature. 

Many, before his day, had written upon this humble vegetable, 
but Goodrich first instituted elaborate and long continued trials, 
upon a scale that had never before been attempted, and his writ- 
ings are a scientific discussion of the results of his own experiments. 
His name may be fitly associated with that of Van Mons, of Bel- 
gium, who gave the great impulse to pear culture; with that of 
Knight, the President of the London Horticultural Society, whose 
philosophic experiments gave a new rank to Horticulture, and 
raised it from an empirical art to the dignity of an experimental 



THE NEAV YORK SXJ:N^. 

CHA-RIjES a. DANA, Editoi-. 

The Cheapest and Best Newspaper in the United States. 



Three Editions— Daily, Semi-Weekly 
THE WEEKLY DOLLAR SUN, 
Is prepared with special reference to tlie wants 
of country readers. 
It contains news of the week from all parts of 
the globe, the most interesting editorial articles 
of THE DAILY SUN, and the most instructive 
and entertaining miscellany. Its CATTLE, 
PRODUCE, AND GI:NERAL MARKET RE- 
PORTS, wiH he foun.l all that can be desired. 
As a general FAJIILY NEWSPAPER, it will be 
particularly acceptable. 

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT 
Is under the supervision of Mr. ANDREW S. 
FULLER, the well known Horticulturist, who 
writes on the subjects in question, and reports 
the meetings of the FARMERS' and FRUIT 
GRO AVERS' CLUBS for our columns. 

150 OF THE CHOICEST VARIETIES OF POTATOES. 

Some of them cost us last spring no less than 
SoO a tuber. For 25 subscribers, with $25, we will 
send 25 copies of Weekly for one year, and 25 
named varieties of potatoes, including the new- 
est and most costly kinds. For $.50, 50 copies 
and 50 varieties. For $100, 100 copies and 100 
varieties. These potatoes will be all labeled, care- 
fully packed, and sent free, by mail or express. 

For the ladies we have grown 

30,000 choice LILIES AND GLADIOLUSES. 

To every new subscriber, or those who will 
renew their subscriptions for next year, at full 
rates, viz: One dollar for the Weekly, or two 
dollars for the Semi-Weekly Sun, we will send 
any one of the following gifts, postage paid, to 
anv part of the United States. 

In ordering the gifts, it will be only necessary 
to mention the number. 



14. Two White Grape 
do. 

15. Two Concord Grape 

16. Two Hartford Proli- 
fic do. 

17. One Delaware do. 

18. One lona do. 

19. One Japan Lily,long 
flowered (white). 

20. One Japan Lily, Ru- 
brun, (Red). 

21. One Jap. Lily, Rose- 
um, (Rose-colored) 

22. One Japan Lilv, Al- 
bum, (White). 

23. One Lilium Candi- 
dum, (fragr't white) 

24. One Choice named 
variety of Gladio- 

^ _ lus. 

No. 25 — One package Lilium Aurstum seed,tlie 
new gold-banded Lily from Japan. 

jjo. 26— Bresee's Prolific— Best late potato. 

No. 27 — Climax. — Large, early, excellent do. 

No. 28— Early Prince.— A new variety of great 
value. 

No. 29— Early Mohawk. — Large, productive, 
early do. 

No. 30— Early Rose Unsurpassed. 

No. 31— King of the Earlies.— Tubers sold at 
$50 last spring. Large, white, early as the Rose. 
INDUCEMENTS TO CANVASSIRS. 

$1,000 LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES, CHICKERING PI- 
ANOS, SEWING MACHINES, BUCKEYE MOWERS, 
PARLOR ORGANS, ETC., GIVEN AWAY. 

Those who desire to get up Clubs for The Sun, 
win be furnished free, on application, with speci- 
mens, posters, and prospectuses. To sdlfull-pay- 



1. Two Ellisdale Rasp- 

berry. 

2. Two Clarke do. 

3. Two Philadelp'a do. 

4. Two Brinckle's Or- 

ange do. 

5. 2 Davison's Thorn- 

less Black do. 

6. Two Seneca Bl'k do. 

7. Two Mammoth Cl'r 

do. 

8. Two ^lonthly Black 

do. 

9. Two Summit Yel- 

low do. 

10. One Sable Queen 

Blackberry. 

11. 2 Early Wilson do. 

12. Two Kittatinny do. 

13. 2 Cherry Currants 



AND Weekly— at $6, $2, and $1 per year. 
ing subscribers, for Weekly or Semi-Weekly, 
whether singly or in Clubs, the vines and plants, 
will be sent where desired, as above; while as an 
inducement to get up Clubs, we make the follow- 
ing liberal offers in addition, a Semi-Weekly 
subscription counting as one /or plants and two 
for preminins: 

For Clubs of Twenty-five, with $25 we will 
send the getter-up a Univereal Clothes Wringer, 
No. 114, large family size, worth $10. 

For Clubs of Thirty-five, we will send Do- 
ty's famous Clothes Washer, price $14. 
' For Clubs of Fifty, we will send both the 
Wringer and Clothes Washer. 

For Clubs of One Hundred, we will send a 
first-class Singer's Family Sewing Machine, of the 
new and popular make, price $60; has a hemmer 
and braider, and is well adapted for all kinds of 
work. 

For Clubs of One Hudred and Fifty, with 
$150, we will send one of E. P. Needham & Sou's 
celebrated Parlor Organs. Price $30. 

For Clubs of Two Hundred, we will send 
one of the celebrated Buckeye Mowing Ma- 
chines, complete. No. 2, 4 feet 1 inch cut. Price 
$125. 

For Clubs of Three Hundred, we will send 
one of Needham & Son's silver-tongued Parlor Or- 
gans. Price $145; and for lager clubs, a proiwr- 
tionately larger and more costly one. These In- 
struments are of superior tone and finish. 

For Clubs of Five Hundred, with $.500, we 
will give a full paid up registered Life Insurance 
policy of $1,000 in the North America Life Ins. Co. 
of New York, on an accepted life of the age of 
25 years, or its equivalent if the person is older. 

These Policies are registered in the State De- 
partment at Albany, where securities for their 
payment are di']i"sitVfl, thus making them abso- 
lutely safe. Tills wiiulil l)e an invaluable provi- 
sion for wife and children, or others dependeut 
upon the life of the assured. 

For One Thousand Subscribers with $1,000, 
to the Weekly, or 500 subscribers to the Semi- 
Weekly, with $1,000, or subscribers to both edit- 
tions, to the amount of $1,000 we will send a mag- 
nificent 7)4 octave Chickering & Son's Grand 
Square Rosewood Piano Forte. They are No. 9 in 
Chickering's Catalogue, and the very best grand 
square they make. Price $725 ; [old price, $975.] 
The makers are celebrated the world orer for 
the superior quality of their work. 

Should no competitor for this premium reach 
the number of subscribers specified, then one of 
these superb instruments will be awarded to the 
canvasser who, as shown by our books, has ob- 
tained the largest number of subscribers before 
the 1st of February next. 

Canvassers need not wait till they have com- 
pleted their clubs, as subscriptions may commence 
at my time. Nor need the subscribers be all from 
one town or PostoflSce. All names sent by one 
person count, wherever come from. 
TO POSTMASTERS. 
Postmasters and others getting up clubs of ten 
of either edition, will receive an extra copy for 
their kindness. 

To Clubs without Plants or Premiums. 
Twenty copies of the Weekly Sun will be 
mailed to one address for $17, and fifty copies for 
$37 50, invariably in advance. 

Ten copies to one address of the Semi- Weekly 
Sun, $18. Twenty copies to one address, $35; and 
fifty copies $80, always in advance. 

All business communications should be ad- 
dressed to 

I. W. ENGLAND, Publisher. 

Sun Otfice, New York. 



THE POTATO MANIA. 13 



science. The x>otato has noio a literature/ And why should men 
smile at the idea of a literature of the potato? It is one of the 
four great supporters of the human race. First is wheat; next, 
probably, rice ; then maize, and then the potato. It may be doubted 
whether the potato does not supply food to more millions than 
does the maize. If it does, then it must occupy the third place 
in this honorable quaternity. The potato, as food, approaches 
nearer to the standard of bread than any other production of our 
zone. It is an admirable ingredient with flour, for bread-making. 
It is farinaceous, nutritious, and of an agreeable flator. It is far 
easier of cultivation than Indian corn, and returns a greater 
amount of food to the acre. Long after the point is reached when 
corn will not flourish, the potato holds on, and even improves in 
qualit}''. It is raised in Iceland at its northern bounds, and in 
America it flourishes along the shores of Lake Superior, and to 
the Red River, and on the Columbia. 

In our own land it finds itself at home in some part of every 
State in the Union. It reaches as far south as do the Indian corn 
and the vine, provided the mountain table-lands be selected for it; 
and at the north it feels itself at home and vigorously happy, long 
after the maize has refused to grow and ripen. The crop of the 
single State of New York, for 1868, says a writer in the "New 
York Observer," was twenty-five million bushels. At fifty cents a 
bushel, this is more than ttvelve million dollars. This is the way 
to dig gold. Prospecters, with pick and pan, may do very well 
in the Rocky Mountains, but the true way to dig gold in New 
York State, is to let your potatoes do it for you. Our soil is au- 
riferous, if one knows how to deal with it. As there were one 
hundred and fifty million bushels of potatoes raised in the United 
States in 1860, it is a safe calculation to say that in 1869 there 
were, at least, two hundred and twenty-Jive million bushels. Making 
the price as low as thirty cents a bushel, we should have more 
than sixty-seven million dollars dug from potato hills in one year I 



14 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



the: to^ts-w K.:Esijic3rioxTS ■wosiesis.Xj-k-. 



the: ohci^i^ti^^tv xj]xioiv 

— IS AN — 

Unsectarian, Independent Journal, devoted to Religion, Morals, Reform, 

Foreign and Domestic News of the Church and the World, 

Literature, Science, Art, Agriculture, Trade, 

Finance, etc., etc., etc.. 

And containing Houseliold Stones, Clioice Pooms, WallvS with the Cliildren, etc., etc. Contributions 
from WELL-KNOWN and EMINENT WRITEIIS, together with 

Editorials and Lecture-Room Talks 

Aiming to he a truly Christian Journal, and a complete Famil)' Newspaper, and having for its high- 
est purjjose the pr^esentation of 

it will advocate, in the spirit of love and liberty, the fellowship and cooperation of Christs people of 
every name. Eecognizing the right and necessity of different Church organizations as the natural 
result of the many-mindedness of mankind, it will endeavor to treat all Christian denominations 
with fairness and love, stating its own opinions with frankness but in kindness, and providing an 
jirena for courteous debate not hedged in by sectarian boundaries. Without undervaluing doctrinal 
truth, it will chiefly strive to foster and enforce Christianity, as a Life, rather than as a theological 
system. 

In this connection, the Publishers feel a crowning assurance of strength in that they have 
secured a special and pectiliar interest in the paper on the part of the man whose stirring dis- 
courses, and broad, rich writings on themes of Christian life have done so much toward developing 
the 'spirit of unity among Christ's iieople of every name. The strong and already conspicuous 
leadership of the 

Kev. Henry Ward Beecher 

in this direction of popular Christian feeling is too well known to need more than mention here ; 
suffice it to say, he is constantly represented from week to week in its Editorial and other columns, 
and on the first of January next lie will become its 

and will call to his aid some of the best and most notable talent of the land. 

With these advantages, the Publishers confidently commend to the reading Christian public 
this young and vigorous journal, 

THE CHRISTIAIV TTNIOIV. 



Its form: Sixteen Pages—Cut and Stitched, so convenient, both for 

use and jireservatiou, as to be a great and special merit in its fa\or, apart from its superior literary 
attractions. 



Its Circulation: More than Doubled during the first month of Mr. beech- 

ER's identification witli its interests, is now making even more rapid strides forward. 



ITB PEIO-ls ®ML¥ $0.50 PIE TIAE, 

And to all who subscribe NOW for 1870, it will be sent, for the remainder of the year, FREE. 
SUBSCRIBE FOR IT! GET OTHERS TO TAKE IT! ! 

Circulars sent, upon api)lieation, containing List of liberal 

CJLSH oo:]yn:M:issioisrs j^jstjd ip:R:Eii^xTJi^s 

Specimen copies of the "Christian Union" sent free, to any addi'ess, by 

J. B. FOMD £ CO., Fnhlishers, 

39 Park Row, New York. 



THE POTATO SIA^'1A. 15 



If one would form a sound judgment upon the matter of new 
potatoes, he must consider what the money value to this nation 
is, year by ^-ear, of this Poor Man's Crop. What a terrible mis- 
fortune, falling chiefly upon the hard working poor, would be its 
destruction or its material diminution. It is certain that at the time 
that Mr. Goodrich began his experiments, and inaugurated the 
race of new potatoes, there was a prevalent fear that all the old 
sorts must be given up. Men were looking about for some other 
esculent to take the place of the potato? To obtain new sorts, of 
robust constitution, as good as the Mercer or the Peachblow, 
which would withstand the inroads of the mysterious disease that 
had so almost universally followed these old sorts, was a matter 
of National concern. 

There is not a farmer in the United States who is not richer 
to-day for the "Potato Mania," as it is called. The enterprise 
and skill of the school of Goodrich, is not to be regarded as 
speculative. That high prices have been paid for new kinds of 
potatoes, that there has been a slight speculative fever, may be 
admitted. But this is a mere wrinkle on the face of a great 
movement for the regeneration of the fourth (perhaps the third) 
important article of National food. "VVe ought not to be misled 
by a mere incidental feature. The real facts are, that a great 
crop was perishing from our hands, and that Providence raised 
up men whose patience and sagacit}^ has met the evil, and warded 
it off. If Mr. Goodrich, instead of dying poor, had made a 
million dollars, he would not have been overpaid. 

But, we think that there is a very great misapprehension in respect 
to the profits made b}' any of the gentlemen whose names have 
figured in connection with new potatoes. Men hear that fifty dollars 
have been paid for single potatoes; that eighty dollars and more a 
bushel have been paid lor other sorts; that they are selling at a 
dollar a pound, &c. Compared with the old fashion piice per bushel, 
these sums seem utterly extravagant. The transactions seem like 
gambling. It recalls the speculations in Morus MulticauUs; the 



16 A D VERTISEMENTS 



LEADING AGRICULTURAL PAPER OF NEW ENGLAND. 



One of the best conJucted Agricultural Journals in the country. — Rural New Yorker. 



ADVANCE TERMS 

1870. 



WEEKLY, "i Q.^ r\ MONTHZY, 

53.50 FEPt .^ISrNLrJVI. i. O « V/. $1.50 FER ^ISTNXJJU. 



During the past nearly fifty years this Pioneer op the Agricultural Press has become 
so well and favorably known to New England readers, that a brief enumer- 
ation of its merits and claims will be sutficient. 

THE WEEKLY NEW ENGLAND FARMER 

Is a large folio sheet, thirty-two columns of reading matter, calculated especially 
for the interests of the 

rarmer, Horticulturist, Mechanic, and the Family Circle, 

Edited by competent persons, and embracing in its list of contributors, 
practical men in every part of the country. 

Illustrations of Practical Value and Interest given in nearly every isssue 

The News Department is carefully compiled, and the Summary made up to the latest 
hour before going to press. We give special attention to our 

m:a.iiket rep^ohts. 

Including the Brighton and Cambridge Cattle Market; the Wool Markets; ProdiLce Markets of Boston 
and the leading Commercial Points of the Country ; the Boot & Shoe Market; Financial Matters, &c 

The fourth page is devoted to Literary Selections — giving a complete Story each week, Poe- 
try and General Selections. We also publish, at frequent intervals, articles on 

HDOIMIESTIO EOOIsTOIMI'Y', 

Of great interest and value to our lady readers. 
Advertisers receive, on liberal terms, the Benefit of a Circulation over lyiOOO ! 

Larger than that of any other Paper of its class in New England, 

Rates given on application. Specimen Copies and Circulars sent on receipt of Red Stamp. 

THE MONTHLY NEW ENGLAND FARMER 

Contains, each month, /or/y-ei^'i^psges of reading, handsomely printed and illustrated, forming an 
annual volume of nearly 600 pages, in neat and appropriate binding. 

Address all orders to the Publishers, 

R. P. EATON & CO., 

^STo. 34 ]VIercliants' IRo-w, 

sosTOisr. 



THE rOTATO MANIA. 17 



Dutch speculation in Tulips in Holland; articles on the Exchange, 
as Erie stock is to-da}', badgered and bated by "Bulls and 
Bears." But, tulips never were more than fancy articles. The 
extraordinary price which some of them reached during the 
prevalence in the Netherlands, of what has been fitly called 
^^ TuUpomcmia,^^ bore no proportions whatever to any real or pros- 
pective value; it was an artificial inflation. During the three 
years following 1634, a single bulb of the "Viceroy" brought 
2,500 florins. The " Deutzer Augustus" was often sold for 2,000 
florins, and in one case, 4,000 florins, together with a new carriage 
and a pair of horses with harness, were promised for a single 
root; and in another instance a single bulb brought twelve acres 
of land. It needs no exposition to show that this was a crazyness ; 
that there was no sound basis in intrinsic value. 

But a new potato, as good as the Mercer, and not subject to 
disease, in a few years would add to the wealth and comfort of 
millions of men. A potato that should be as good as the Peach- 
blow, and so productive as to yield three to four hundred bushels 
to the acre, would be a direct and appreciable addition to the 
National wealth. Again, a potato that comes in as early as the 
Dykeman, and is more productive, and of a larger size, is literally 
worth, to market gardeners, millions of dollars. "Goodrich's 
Early," and that admirable successor, the " Early Rose," were not 
speculative novelties. They were long strides in good husbandry, 
and were positive additions to the wealth of the communit}-. 

If, now, Mr. Bresee, or any other gentleman, has advanced a 
step be3^ond the "Early Rose," and produced a potato large in 
size, fine in quality, productive in the hill, and some days earlier 
than any put upon the market before, he deserves a premium far 
larger than he will really get by the sale of a few tubers, for a 
single year, at great prices. People do not reflect upon the labor 
required to raise a new fruit, or a new vegetable. Mr. Goodrich 
raised more than sixteen thousand seedlings. Perhaps ten of these 
are permanent acquisitions, and deserved large prices; but where 



1 8 AD VERTISElVrENTS . 



NOW IS THE TIME TO SUBSCRIBE 

— for' the — 

NEW YORK WEEKLY, 

THE PEOPLE' S FAVORITE JOURNAL. 

THE MOST INTERESTING STORIES 

ARE ALAVAYS TO BE FOUND IN THE NEW YORK WEEKLY. 

AT PRESENT THERE ARE 

six: o-i^e^t stoi^ies 

Running through its columns; and at least 

One Story is begun Every Montli. 

New subscribers are thus sure of having the commencemout of a new continued 
story, no matter when they subscribe for the 

NEW^ YORK ^WEEKLY. 

Each number of the NEW YORK WEEKLY contains Several Beautiful Illus- 
trations, Double the Amount of Reading Matter of any paper of its class, and the 
Sketches, Short Stories. Poems, etc., are by the ablest writers of America and Europe. 
The NEW YORK WEEKLY does not confine its usefulness to amusement, but pub- 
lishes a great quantity of really Instructive Matter, in the most condensed form. The 

New York Weekly Departments 

have attained a high reputation from their brevity, excellence and correctness. 

The Pleasant Paragraphs are made up of the concentrated wit and humor of 
many minds. 

The Knowledge Box is confined to useful information on all manner of subjects. 

The News Items give in the fewest words the most notable doings all over the 
world. 

The Gossip with Correspoxdents contains answers to inquires upon all 
imaginable subjects. 

AN UNRIVALLED LITERARY PAPER 

— IS THE — 

NE^V YORK WEEKLY. 

Each issue contains from EIGHT to TEN STORIES and SKETCHES, and 
HALF A DOZEN POEMS, in ADDITION to the SIX SERIAL STORIES and the 
VARIED DEPARTMENTS. 

THE TER]MS TO SUBSCRIBERS: 

One Year— single copy^ Three Dollars 

" Four copies ($2.50 each) Ten Dollars 

" " Eight copies Twenty Dollars 

Those sending $20 for a club of Eight, all sent at one time, will be entitled to a 
copy FREE. Getters-up of Clubs can afterward add single copies at $2.50 each. 

STREET & SMITH, Proprietors, 

No. 55 Fultox Street, N. Y. 



THE POTATO MANIA. 19 



are the Jifteen thoicsand nine Jmiidred and ninety kinds that, after 
much care, proved valueless, and were thrown away? The culti- 
vator must make up on the one lucky hit all the expenses of 
hundreds, and it may he of thousands, of failures. It is very 
seldom that raisers of new fruits or vegetables earn even their 
expenses. It is a costly process, requiring time, patience, skill, 
and not a little outlay. When success crowns the sagacious in- 
<Iustry, his task is just begun. His article must be put upon the 
market, must be extensively advertised, must get a reputation, 
and create for itself a demand. But by this time, scores of men 
have, by hook or ])y crook, got hold of it, worked up a stoclv, 
forced the market, swept off the profits, and left the originator 
to study a full page on the debtor side of his book, with but 
a few starveling lines on the credit page. 

The " New Rochelle " Blackberry brought to its originator next 
to nothing in money. He was permitted to stand by and see an 
enterprising nurseryman stick his own name upon it, and blot out 
from the originator even the poor reward of naming his own 
fruit. We should like to see Mr. Williams' books, of Mont Clair, 
New Jersey, who brought the "Early Wilson" Blackberr}- into 
the 'market. After all his labor and care, the public are enjoying 
an excellent thing, while we susjiect that he could carry all his 
profits in one hand, and then have room to hold his cane. Money 
is often made on new Flowers, but we suspect that the cases are 
rare in which new fruits or vegetables have brought to their 
producers enough to make up for actual outla}'. We wish the 
rewards of enterprise were surer, and that they might tempt more 
men to experiment for the amelioration and improvements of the 
great staple articles of husbandry. Our virgin soil will soon be 
grown old; diseases and insect enemies multiply from j'ear to 
year. We must fight a sharp battle for our harvest, and we can 
not afford to diminish a single motive wdiich may inspire men to 
study and labor for improvements in that great productive Art of 
Husbandry, which underlies all other arts, and which is the nurse 
of them all. 



20 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



HEAETH A'ND HOME 

G- 1 "\r E n^ J^"V7" JL"2' ! 



EVEItYTHIIVG FOlEl IVOTHIIVG I 



TO ALL -n-ho subscribe before next January, for One Year, at the Reduced Rates printed below, 
HEARTH AND HOME will be sent from the date of their subscription to the end of this year 

nF' n. 3E3 E3 ! 

So that all such yearly subscriptions will end January 1st, 1871. Therefore, those who subscrilie 

EARLIEST, WILL GET THE MOST FOE XOTIIIXG. 
Our ONLY TERMS hereafter are the below Reduced Rates for 1870, 

Single Copies, $4.00 

Three Copies, aU at one time 9.00 

Five Copies, all at one time, 12.00 

ALL OVER FIVE COPIES AT SAME RATE 
Making HEARTH AND HOME, to a Club of Five Subscribers, • ' $ A»^\j each. 

The Cheapest, as it is the most complete, Family Weekly Newspaper in the world. 
NEIGHBORS! Combine and make up a Club of Five or more; put in $2.40 each, and for- 
ward in one remittance, either in Money-orders, Bank Checks, Drafts, or enclosed in a letter, which 
the Postmaster is obliged to register if requested. 

J?L.GKNTS TN' E^V^ERY TOWN 

AVill find Less Work and Bigger Pay in making up Clubs at our rates, than is offered by any Sys- 
tem of Premiuim whatever, for, Ijv taking single scattering subscriptions at regular rate, and remitting 
to us at our REMARKABLY LOW CLUB RATES, they can make a large money profit 
as they go along. ♦ 

WHAT IS HEARTH AND HOME ? 

It is a Large and Handsome Eural and Tamily Weekly of Sixteen Folio Pages 

printed on fine white paper, and having many illustrations by the best artists in each number. 

It is edited by Donald G. Mitchell, (Ik Marvel,) assisted by a corps of first-c-lass associates 
and contributors in all departments. 

It is got up for all members of good families in town and country, and contains the best of 
everything for everybody in city, village and country. 

It contains so much room that every number has an abundant variety for Father, Mother, Sous, 
Daughters, down to the prattling babe. 

It gives useful Rural hints by most". experienced persons, about Fruit Growing, Flower Culture, 
Ornamental Gardening, Rural Architecture, Country Homes, Ac. 

It has a most valuable Household Department and choice Stories, Essaj's, Poems, the News, Wit 
and Humor, and all the features of a first class Family Paper. 

. THERE IS NOTHING SO GOOD. THERE IS NOTHING SO CHEAP. 

PETTENGILU BATES & CO., 

37 PARK ROW, NEW YORK. 



THE POTATO JIANIA. 21 



Compared with the gigantic speculations Avhich are going on 
every moment, in stocks of roads, mines, and manufacturing com- 
panies, the pett}^ flurry in the potato market is like the dip of a 
STvallow's wing upon the ocean compared with the outburst of a 
tornado. And yet the transactions are quite remarkable in their 
own small way. It should be remembered that Mr. Bresee, who 
raised the "Early Rose" from seeds of the "Garnet Chili," did 
not himself fix a price upon the "King of the Earlies." Fifty 
dollars for a single potato was pressed upon him at a time when 
he did not care to sell, but when once it was known, there were 
many who were eager to obtain this new kind at the same price. 
AVhether thc}' have individually made mone}^ on it, we do not 
know. It is certain that such enterprise was never before shown, 
in suddenly increasing the product of a single tuber. By emplo3'ing 
a propagating house, cutting the shoots from a single potato, 
taking off cuttings as soon as the plants were six inches high, 
which were potted and plunged in a border with bottom heat, 
and in turn yielded other cuttings, increasing in a geometric 
ratio, there have been secured, in a single season, many thousands 
of plants from a single potato. 

Compared with the "King of the Earlies," the sales of the 
"Early Rose" now seem quite moderate in price, and j-et our 
fathers would have been astounded had one told them that more 
than a hundred dollars a bushel would ever be given for seed 
potatoes. But, in the fall of 1867, D. S. Heifron, of Utica, N. Y., 
sold to the Messrs. Conover, of New Jersey, one hundred and 
twenty-five (125) bushels of "Early Rose," for ten dollars per 
bushel. In the spring of 1868, the same gentleman sold to the 
same firm one hundred and fift3'-three and eleven-thirteenths (153|-i) 
bushels, for sixty-Jive dollars per bushel, amounting to ten thousand 
dollars, ($10,000). 

On the same day of this latter transaction, the Messrs. Conover 
sold to Geo. "W. Best, of Utica, one hundred and twenty-five 
V)ushels, at eifjhty dollars per bushel, or tiw hundred and twenty 



99 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



Aina^leaa PaFra 



The Neatest, the Cheapest, the most Readable and Practical Agricultura' 
and Educational Journal in America. 



THE ASIERICAN FARMER, (formerly The Genesee Farmer,) a monthly Journal of Agricul- 
ture, Horticulture and Gardening, now in its thirty-eighth year. 

The oldest continued Journal of the kind in America. Handsomely Illustrated, and eminently 
practical. 

THE SCHOOL VISITOR, a Semi-Monthly Journal of Education, devoted to the interests of 
Common Schools, with departments for Teachers, Patrons, and Children. 

The Children's Department containing pleasing Stories, School Dialogues, Enigmas, Rebusses, &c. 

THE TWO PAPERS ARE UNSTED IN ONE 

— .A. IT ID — 

i>xjbijISh:e;33 se:m:i-m:ontkly, 
TJie 1st and 15th of each 31onth, for ^1.00 a year, in advance. 



4@® ,^W4mS@ gA©Ei A WMMM 

The Cheapest Paper in America. 

<3ir.i^fM>:E: IVIBfLS , 

^^IjXj ■W.A.ITT IT. 

Occupying, as we do, a iield that no other paper does ; advocating in the most earnest and 
practical manner, every means calculated to improve and elevate our common schools and dignify 
the farmer's calling, we feel warranted in asking the friends of Agricultural and Educational im- 
provements — men, women and children — to help extend the circulation, thus widening the sphere 
of usefulness of our paper. 

A.ny one sending fOUH STIBSCIilSJERS, at a dollar each, ivill receive 
Jiis paper FREE. 

$DU IJ^ urllLlI will be given to the person sending us the largest club. As all cannot get the 
largest number, we will give to those who try and fail, TWENTY PER CENT in CASH, or in 
WATCHES, SEWING MACHINES, BOOKS, SEEDS, PLANTS or IMPLEilENTS on every dollar 
they send in. 

BEGIN NOW AND SUCCEED. 

WHY GIVE $2.50 OR $3, FOR WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR $1? 

ADDRESS, 

BOCHESTER, N. T. 



THE POTATO MANIA. 



O?. 



dollars per barrel, (2f bushels). In small quantities the "Early 
Rose " was sold at prices yet higher than these. Without ex- 
pressing an opinion as to the probable profits of these transactions 
1»o the persons employed, we do not doubt that the stimulation of 
such prices will stir up multitudes of men to originate new varie- 
ties of potatoes. There will be, doubtless, much carelessness and 
some imposition; but it cannot be but that the countr}^ at large 
will be an immense gainer b}- all this excitement. Individuals 
may suffer some losses, but the community will be greatly enriched. 



24: ADVERTISEMENTS. 



CAHOON'S BROADCAST SEED SOWER 

Sows all kinds of Grain and Grass Seed with perfect regularity and wonderful rapidity. 

• ]il'i///////y.;'.- The uuparalled success of this Seeder 

''ilff'/^/''/^'^'^ during the year 18G9, is entirely beyond 

' / ; •'•''<'-;^ precedent. It has been sold in nearly 

''?5--'r;. every State in the Union, and thousands 

''-_''■ to-day are testifying to its wonderful merit. 

■ i^ _3l-v ■' The Hand Machine, which retails every- 

//>:V:Sr3.j^:l^ where for SlO.OO, will SOW 50 acres of wheat 

. ,,--^jT;Hr!-- per day, and lighter grain in proportion. 

^'/^y,''i^'><^>'<':<i^y^. ■W^^'^M~---~^^=-^^^^^^^'^-~ This is no clap-trap arrangement, but is .a 

'/v'^'-;/y^'%^;f^^^;''.:;'iKm^;- ^?;i5^^ri~i^gV^^^*;: genuine, durable, substantial machine, and 

''//'//^//y'//' '■. /', '■ '''''w fM^ ' ' ~'^' ~ ~ ^^ -^^ ~ -^ is warranted to perform ALL we claim for 

':!^ssi^d^- -- 'M ra ~ "~^>,-- it in every particular. Sold by all respect- 

■=fe=^ > i"t-=^'-^,- ■' al)ie dealers in Agricultural Implements 

~- _ ". _;_ __ throughout the country. 

D. H. COODELL & CO., 

Sole Manufacturers, Antrim, N. H. 




LARGEST CIRCULATION AND MOST POPULAR IN THE WEST, 

THE WESTERN RURAL 

The great leading Agricultural and Family Weekly of the West. 

03^Xj"Z" ^2.00 I»:E3H. "STE-A-H.. 

Owing to its Superior Adaptation to the wants of the "West, it has established a cir- 
culation ah-eady DOUBLE THAT OF ANY OTHER Agricultural 
Journal west of New York. 

^TT-TTl WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A COPY OF THE "WESTERN RURAL;' FOR 
VV ri-i perusal in every family where it is not now received, knowing that an examination 
will secure a subscription. It is the most practical Journal of its class, and its ample pages are 
crowded with "good things." It is printed with large and beautiful type, easily read by lamp-light 
without hurting the eyes. 

Give the Western Rural the preference.— CArca^'o Ti-iburw- Possesses uncommon excellence.— 
Chicago Jmimal. A popularity beyond precedent.- Pe/roi/ Free Press. Capital farm and family 
paper. — Christum Standard. Better than Eastern Journals.— C'Airaj'O Timfs. 

SPECIMEN LETTERS.— The following is from a Postmaster : "The Western Rural is the 
l>est paper that I ever canvassed for, and is looked after with MORE INTEREST than any other 
paper taken at this office. 

A SUBSCRIBER WRITES:— "The Western Rural has the prettiest name, the prettiest 
dress, tiie best print, and gives the best family reading of any weekly paper I ever held before my 
eyes. Every time I come home from the post-office, my ears are greeted with 'O! Pa, I want to see 
the Rural,' or 'Did you get the Rural?'" 

*** The Western Rural gives the most liberal promiums of any FIRST-CLASS WEEKLY 
in America! More than $40,000 have been given awav us ]iremiums to those who have formed clubs 
during the past two years. Our premium list cinliraccs over ONE HUNDRED DIFFERENT 
ARTICLES, given for clubs of from two to one hundred suliscribers. 

New subscribers to the AVesteen Rural, for 1870, by subscribing early, will receive .the re- 
maining numbers of 1869 without charge, commencing at the time the names are received. 

4®= Enclose $2.00 at once, or subscribe through your Postmaster, or some one who is foriuing a 
club. Specimen Copies, Premium Lists, etc., sent free. 

Address H. N. P. LEWIS, Publisher "Western Rural, 

At either Chicago, 111., or Detroit, Mich. 



THE EAKLY EOSE. 



THE EAKLY ROSE. 




Although this valuable variety has been but two years before 
the public, it is already as "well known as any varietj' now nnder 
cultivation in the United States, and it has been the subject of 
more vinanimons and universal praise than any other potato ever 
offered to growers. It was raised from the seed of the well 
known '"Garnet Chili," by Albert Bresee, an intelligent farmer of 
Hortonville, Vt. , and whose name is familiar to potato raisers in 
all parts of the country. Wlien first offered for sale, it was at 
enormous prices, but the supply is now so abundant as to bring 
it within the reach of every farmer in the land, and if the}' profit 
by the experience of the thousands who have tested it, not one of 
them will fail to give it a trial the coming season. The tuber is 
of large size, eyes shallow, skin thin and tough, flesh white, solid 
and brittle; boils through quickh', is very meah', and has a 
delicious flavor. 



26 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



THE OHIO FAR!ViER--VOLUME XIX-1870. 

TO BE BETTER TIIAX EVJCll BEFOEE. 

THE FIRESIDE AND CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENTS TO BE ILLUSTRATED. 

VALUABLE INDUCEMENTS OFFERED SUBSCRIBERS. 

LIBERAL PREMIUMS OFFERED TO CLUB AGENTS 

FOR EITHER OLD OR NEW SUBSCRIBERS. 

Consisting of BEAUTIFUL COLORED LITHOGRAPHS, DIAMOND POINTED GOLD PENS, 

SPLENDID CHROMOS, WEBSTER'S PICTORIAL DICTIONARY, SILVER 

WATCHES, GOLD WATCHES, SEWING MACHINES, 

MELODEONS, &c., &c. 

T^venty Tliousancl IVe^v Sixl>scr-il>ers "Wanted. 

THE OHIO FARIWER IS A WEEKLY AGRICULTURAL AND FAWILY PAPER, 

Devoted to Agriculture, Stock Raising, Sheep Husbandry, Dairy Business, Swine, Poultry, Garden- 
ing, Fruit Growing, Mechanical Arts, Housekeeping, Domestic Education, Family Reading, 
Rural Inteiligeuce, Wool Markets, Live Stock Markets, Produce Markets, Ac, 
giving a great variety of practical matter for both old and young readers. 

THE OHIO FARMER is a live weekly of fifty-two numbers a year— twenty pages every week ; 
over eighty pages per month — making an annual volume of 

One Thousand and Forty Pages for Only Two Dollars! 

THE OHIO FARMER is published in quarto form, and the only weekly paper in the country 
that is covered and stitched. Sample copies sent free. 

Address, OHIO FARMER, Cleveland, O. 

COTTAG-E G-AKDENEE 



We are in receipt of this valuable little monthly paper, edited by A. M. PURDY. 
(successor to Purdy & Johnston, ) of Palmyra, N. Y. It contains the most practical 
articles in relation to this subject we ever saw, and should be in the bands of every 
person who has a garden of even a rod square. 

THE PRICE IS mn FIFTY CENTS A YEAR, 

Send stamp for a specimen copy and circular containing offer to those getting up 
clubs. "We notice any person getting up a club of six has one copy gratis. He also 
sends out a valuable little work called the 

sm:^ll fuxjit iivstrxjctor. 

Which has received the highest testimonials from the most prominent horticulturists 
and pomologists in the United States. It tells how to plant and grow all kinds of 
small fruits. 

Address, for either of the above, the above parties. 



BKESEE S "'KING OF THE EAKLIES. 



27 



BKESEE^S "KITnTG- OF THE EAKLIES," 

OR SEEDLING NO. 4. 




This is the variety spoken of by Heniy Ward Bcecher, in his 
essay on "Tlic Potato Mania," whieli he calls "Tlie Fifty Dollar 
Potato." The following description is taken from the potato cir- 
cular of B. K. Bliss & Son, the well known seedsmen of New York : 

"Raised in 1862, by Albert Bresee, of IIul)bardton, Vt., from a 
seed ball of the Garnet Chili; vines quite dwarf, averaging from 
ten to twelve inches; bears no seed balls; leaves large; tubers 
large and handsome, roundish and slightly flattened; eyes small 
and somewhat pinkish; skin flesh color, or dull pinkish white; flesh 
white, floury; cooks well, and is of the best quality for the table. 
Has thus f:ir proved very hardy and the earliest in cultivation. 

'•The above description was given by Mr. Bresee when this 
variety was first exhibited in the fall of 1868, and we are happ}' to 
state to all interested in the culture of the Potato, that the expe- 
rience of another season full}' confirms all that was then claimed for 

Continved on Page 20. 



28 ADVERTISEJIENTS. 



AN INCREASE OP FROM 100 TO 300 PER CENT 

— ON — 

Cotton, 3ti'hrat, and ©ovn, anrt all ^outhi^m §xop 

A Saving in cost, of 50 per cent, over Peruvian Guano, and 100 
per cent, over Stable Manure, by tne use of 

BAUOH'S RAW BONE SUPER-PHOSPHATE OF LIME, 

In ^vhich are combined ALL the reliable and permanent fertilizing properties of 
PURE, finely ground DISSOLVED RAW BONES, with the active, stimulating 
properties of PERUVIAN GUANO. 

J^=In its present IMPROVED condition, without an EQUAL, at ANY PRICE. 

These statements are endorsed by prominent planters all over the Southern States. 
Space will permit us to refer to a few only : 

Ex-Gov. Smith, Virginia, Col. W. W. Durant, South Carolina, 
Gen. A. R. Wright, Pub. ' Sentinel,' Augusta, Ga., Ex-Senator Dorteh, North Carolina, 

Lieut.-Gen. Pemberton, Virginia, Judge Osborne, " " 

Hon. C. C. Langdon, Alabama, Hon. N. P. Borden, " " 

Hon. F. B. Clarke, " Dr. E. R. Wilkins, 

Hon. T. C. Weatherly, South Carolina, Hon. B. F. Rixey, Virginia. 
Gen. G. W. Evans, " " 

FOR SALE BY 

BAUGH «fc SONS, Manufacturers, 

20 Soutti Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, 
And NOItTH-WESTERHf FERTILIZINO CO., Chicago, III. 

Fresh Warranted Garden Seeds, 

BY MAIL, TO ANY P. 0. IN THE UNITED STATES. 

» ■ ♦ ■ » 

Owing to the increasing demand, from a distance, for our Garden Seeds, we have 
made a speciality of furnishing them by mail, and forward all orders for seeds in papers, 
amounting to $1.00 or upwards, to any Post Office in the United States, Postage Paid, 

Enabling the most distant purchaser to buy as cheaply and favorably 
as if at our store. 

We also guarantee all Seeds sent out by us to arrive safely at their destination. 

Our Seeds are now favorably known in every State and Territory in the Union, and 
the many flattering testimonials we have received from our old customers stimulate us 
to increased efforts to maintain their purity and reputation. Our new crop is remark- 
ably fine, and we are even better prepared than heretofore to give entire satisfaction to 
all who may favor us with orders. 

Our Illustrated Descriptive Priced Catalogue, for 1860, will be furnished to 
parties desiring, until the issue of our New and Enlarged Catalogue for 1870, 
which we will mail to any address on receipt of ten cents. To our old customers, or 
parties intending to order, it will be sent free. 

Address EDWARD J. EVANS & CO., 

Nurserymen and Seedsmen, 

YORK, PA. 



BKESEe's " KING OF THE EAKLIES." 29 

Continued from Page 27. 

it by the raiser. It has been fairly tested in various parts of the 
countr}^, by some of the most experienced potato growers, and pro- 
nounced by them as being from five to ten days earlier than the 
Pearly Rose, and fully equal to it in qualit}- and i)roductiveness and 
general appearance. It possesses one great advantage over all other 
varieties, on account of the dwarf habit of the vines, in consecpience 
of which they can be planted much closer, both in hills and drills, 
than other varieties, thereby giving a much greater yield per acre. 
So great was the anxiety among potato growers to procure this 
variety, last spring, that quite a number were sold at |50 each. As 
far as we have heard, all who purchased even at this high price are 
fully satisfied of its superiority. A silver medal was awarded to 
Mr. Bresee for his seedlings, by the Massachusetts Horticultural 
Society, in the fall of 1868." 

The following is from Mr. Burr, author of "The Field and Garden 
Vegetables of America:" 

HiNGHAM Centre, Mass., Aug. 28, 1869. 

Mr. A. Bresee — Dear Sir: I am happy in communicating the 
result of a trial of the "King of the Earlies." The tuber emplo^-ed 
for seed was cut to single eyes, and these were planted eighteen 
inches apart, in drills. No means for sprouting or forcing Avere 
adopted, and the experiment throughout was strictly one of open 
culture. The plants were small, and far from promising; but the 
yield was remarkable, amounting, as it did, to one hundred and 
twelve fold. So numerous and uniformly large and fine were the 
tubers, that, in view of the slender, dwarfish character of the vine, 
the crop seemed almost a marvel. The variety ripens some da^-s in 
advance of the "Early Rose," is nearly or quite as productive, and 
must prove an acquisition. • 

These newly-introduced earl}^ descriptions of potatoes are earnestly 

commended to cultivators, as well for the field as for the garden. 

Besides being quite as productive and of as good quality as those 

later in maturing, they are easily grown bej'ond liabilit}^ to disease 

by making the planting as earl}^ in spring as the weather will admit. 

Thus managed, the crop will be well ripened by the beginning of 

August, before which time the potato malady seldom, if e^er, makes 

its appearance. 

FEARING BURR. 



30 ADVEKTISEoNIENTS. 



THE a- 1^ E ^T 
AGRICULTURAL NEWSPAPER 

OF IVETT E]VGLA:iVr>, 

Massachusetts Pioiigliman 

-A. IT ID 

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 

THE 
OP THE 

uthi fenglantr Sgricultural §0tictg, 

DEVOTED TO 

AGEICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, SHEEP HUSBANDRY, STOCK RAIS- 
ING, DOMESTIC ECONOMY, CHOICE LITERATURE, GENERAL 
NEWS, WOOL MARKETS, CATTLE MARKETS, ETC. 

AND CONTEIBUTED TO BY SUCH MEN AS 

Dr. GEO. B. LOSING, Hon. CHAS. L. FLINT, Hon. SANFORD HOWARD 
Col. DAN'L NEEDHAM, ALEXANDER HIDE, and others. 

SPECIMEN COPIES SENT EVERYWHERE ON APPLICATION. 

TEHIVIS, »S2.50 P*er Year, in advance. 

GEORGE NOYES, Publisher, 

Nos. 51 and 52 Nortli Market Street. 

BOSTON, MASS. 



]3resee's prolific, or xo. 2. 



31 



BKESEE'S PROLIFIC, OR No. 2. 




[From B. K. Bliss tt Son's Potato Circular.] 

"This variety originated with Mr. Bresee in 1861, and is from 
the same seed ball with the Early Rose — both seedlings of the 
Garnet Chili. 

"The vines of Bresee's Prolific are of medium height, quite 
bushy, somewhat spreading, large leaves, have produced no seed 
balls. Tubers large, regular in shape, and very smooth, slightly 
oblong, somewhat flattened. Skin dull white, inclined to be rus- 
seted, eyes but little depressed and slightly pinkish, flesh white, 
cooks quickl}', is very mealy, and of excellent qualit}', 3'ield very 
large, often exceeding one hundred fold, matures about three weeks 
later than the Early Rose, and will prove a most valuable variety 
for field culture. 

"This variet}- has been thoroughly disseminated throughout the 
country the past season, and we are continually receiving the most 
flattering reports of its extraordinary productiveness and qualit}'." 



32 ADVERTISEME^'TS. 



Tilton's Journal of Horticulture, 



Subscription Price, S3.00 per annum. 

Two Wilder Straivherry Plants given each subscriber, and the 
balance of this year (1869) given each new sub- 
scriber, from the time their subscriptioio 
is j^eceived at our offtce. 



FOR TWO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Any one sending us the names of two subscribers, one of which must be new, and 
$6.00, we will give either one of the following articles: 

The American Agriculturist for 1870; The Parlor Gardener ; a bos of Tilton's Initial Note Paper; 
a Silver Napkin Ring; a Photograph Album holding fifty pictures; a Gold Tooth Pick; a Silver 
Pocket Fruit Knife ; "Gardening for Prolit; " "Practical Floriculture; " "Small Fruit Culturist; " 
a Silver-plated Butter Knife ; Pickle Fork ; Sugar or Jelly Shell ; Cream or Gravy Ladle. 

One may make up a large club and take their premiums from this list, viz. : for each 
two subscribers they cau select one of the articles. 

FOR THREE SUBSCRIBERS. 

Any one sending us the names of three subscribers, two of which must be new. 
and $9.00, we will give either of the following articles: 

Grape Culture, by W. C. Strong; " Garden Vegetables ; " Parkman's Book of Pvoses ; Tennyson's 
Poems, complete; a Silver-plated Flower Vase; Table Bell; Set of Tea Spoons; Pie, Fish, or Ice- 
Cream Knife ; Four Table Spoons, or a Half Dozen Nut Picks ; a Gold Locket ; a Pair of Gold-plated 

Sleeve Buttons. 

One may make up a large club and select their premiums from this list, viz. : for each 
three subscribers one of the above articles may be taken. 

FOR FIVE SUBSCRIBERS. 

To any one sending us a chib of five new subscribers and $15.00, we will give: 

A copy of The Journal for 1870, and One Dozen Plants of the "Wilder Strawberry; 

a Silver-plated Spoon Holder ; a Pair of Salt Cellars ; Set of Table Forks ; Soup Ladle ; Card Receiver, 
or a Set of Dessert or Table Kuives ; Set of Croquet. 

Or for a club of five, one may select one article from each of the premiums offered 
for clubs of two and three subscribers. 

FOR TEN SUBSCRIBERS. 

To any one who will send us a club of tex new subscribers and $30.00, we will give 
either of the following articles: 

A Silver-plat. 'd ^Sardine Box; Breakfast Table Caster; a Porcelain-lined Baking Dish; Cake Bas- 
ket ; Fruit Stand, or One Dozen Dessert Spoons; a Solid Silver Jelly Spoon; a Silver Set— Knife, 
Fork and Spuuu ; Silver Pie or Cake Knife ; a Pair of Silver Butter Knives. 

J. E. TILTON & CO., 

201 Fulton St., NEW YORK. 161 Washington St., BOSTOiN. 



THE EARLY M<3HAWK. 



33 



THE EARLY MOHAWK. 





-*- 




American liijititule (N. Y.) Fanners' Clul), October, 1SG9. 

S. B. CoxovKK, of Washington Market. — This potato originated in 
Miciiigan, in 1864, by Lewis H. Brown, from a ball of the Peachblow, 
the bloom of which had been impregnated with the pollen of the 
Buckej'e, from whom I obtained the seed three years ago, and gave 
them a thorough trial for two years previous to the spring of 1869, 
"when, being well satisfied of its earliness, strength of growth, and 
superior quality, T concluded to have them most thorougldy tested 

Coniircued on Pcqe :',.'. 

3 



34 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



j"TJST :ftjbxjIsh:eid. 



THE 



tttf It U Mmmm 




FOR THE 



T^xjL3<TO :foi?.tei. 



J^OLO, OO Ots. I>UO, 7^ Ots. 



A Brilliant and Effective Composition 

Suitable for Parlor or Concert room, and will unquestionably assert its claim to a 
place in the repertoire of every good player. 

The Duo is arranged en concertante. The Secondo having a beautiful solo 
and a good share of the subject throughout the piece. 

Copies pre-paid and mailed. Address 

JAMES BEST, 

XJTICA, IC, Y. 



THE EAKLY MOIIAM'K. 35 



(hnliimed from Page 33. 

hy the public tiirougbout all sections of the country, and if they still 
maintained their character, to offer them to the public for sale this 
Fall. In order to have them thoroughl}' tested in all sections of the 
country, by disinterested and trustworthy persons, I refused to sell 
any of them at an^^ price, but sent them out in packages of five and 
six potatoes b}^ mail, post-paid, to the Presidents of all the county 
and town Agricultural Societies that were rei)orted in the last edition 
of the Agricultural Report of the Patent Office, with circular accom- 
panying each package, requesting that they try them against all the 
other varieties of potatoes, in regard to earliness, strength of 
growth, yield and quality, and report to me this fall. From the 
large number of letters received up to this time, I feel no hesitation 
in offering the Early Mohawk potato to the public as the very best, 
without exception, of the new varieties offered, and one which will 
not only answer as an earl}^ variety, but one which, from its large 
yield, will take the place, for a winter and spring potato, of the long 
and well known white and red Peachblows, which are fast becoming 
an uncertain crop. This potato sends up a stout, vigorous stalk, 
branching out above ground, taking the form of a bush, growing 
about one and a-half to two feet high, of a very dark green foliage, 
rather inclining to make top before the potatoes set, but after setting 
they increase in size very rapidly ; the tubers grow away from the 
stem from three to six inches each way, setting from eight to ten 
potatoes, which grow uniforml}^ of large, even size, and good shape ; 
the vines mature and die evenly, and at the same time the tubers are 
of oblong, roundish shape, with rather square or flattened ends. The 
flesh is white, the skin of a very light pink or russety white, with 
prominent pink eyes, but little sunken, the potato being very heavy 
and solid, and never hollow inside. All parties who have tested this 
potato ])y cooking, say that it cooks white, dry, and mealy, and the 
flavor superior to any that they ever have eaten. 



36 



THE EAl^LY PRIXCE. 



THE EARLY PRINCE. 




\ww\ w 









If we were personally interested in the sale of this potato, we 
should very much dislike to have the public form an opinion of it, 
based upon the merits of the above engraving, for no one would sus- 
pect that it was ever intended to represent a potato, unless they were 
so informed. 

This variety was originated liy a practical nurseryman of Geneva, 
(whose name, we think, is Robert Simpson,) and first offered for sale 
by E. W. Harrington & Co., of the same place. Like all of the new 
seedlings recently introduced, it is claimed to be ^^ earlier and better 
than the ^Uarly Eose,^" hut the public must take these opinions for 
what they are worth, and prove by actual experiment, which is really 
the most worthy. The " Earl}^ Prince" has not yet been sufficiently 
tested, to enable one to form an opinion as to its value for general 
cultivation, and we would advise our readers to give it a fair trial. 



THE EARLY GOODRICH. 



37 



THE EARLY GOODRICH. 



See Description, Page SS. 




38 THE EARLY GOODRICH. 



THE EARLY GOODRICH. 

See Engraving, Page 37. 

A SEEDLING of tliG Cusco of 18G0. Ill 1862, Mr. Goodrich 
described it: "Round to longish; sometimes a crease at the inser- 
tion of the root; white; flowers, bright lilac; (produces) many balls; 
yield large. This sort is No. 1 in every way." In the spring of 
1864, Mr. G. said of it: "This early sort gives me more satisfac- 
tion than any other I have ever grown." "This variety ripens as 
early as the Ashleaf Kidney ; on rich soil yields from two hundred 
and fifty to three hundred and fifty bushels ])er acre; has never 
shown any disease; is white fleshed, and of superior quality." 

In the year 1868, the season being a very severe one for the 
potato crop, although the yield of the "Early Goodrich" was 
abundant, the quality was very poor, and in many instances they 
were decidedly unfit for table use ; but as it had done so splendidly 
previous to that year, potato growers were not willing to discard 
it entirely, and nearly all of them gave it another trial the 
present year. The result is (as far as we can learu,) that it 
has fully sustained its good reputation, and has yielded abundant 
crops, of first-rate table qualit}-. We are happy to be able to note 
this fact, as it tends to perpetuate the memory of the lamented Mr. 
Goodrich, and preserves for the farmers a variety they could ill 
afford to lose. 



THE HARISON. 



39 



THE HAKISON. 



This is also a 
seedling of the dis- 
co, and a brother of 
the "Early Good- 
rich." "It has a 
smooth white skin, 
white flesh, and is 
the most solid of 
large potatoes, hav- 
ing no hollow at the 
centre. It is enor- 
mously productive, 
yielding as well as 
the parent Cusco, 
and exceeds all oth- 
ers ; its form is good, 
table quality excel- 
lent; keeps well; 
ripens ten days ear- 
liear than the Garnet 
Chili, and thus far 
is as hardy as the 
Garnet Chili." 

In regard to the 
crop of Harison, of 
1868, the same 
might be said as of 
the ' ' Early Good- 
rich." Although we 
have raised none 
ourselves the present 
year, we understand from several growers that the (juality is greatly 
improved, and that it is really a good potato for family use. 

In view of its large size and enormous productiveness, we would 
strongly recommend it to those who raise potatoes for feeding stock, 
as for this purpose we think it Ims no equal. 




40 



THE WORCESTEK, OR REILY. 



THE WORCESTER, or REILY. 




This potato first came to our notice tlirougli Mos.-^rs. "SVasliburn & 
Co., Seedsmen, of Boston, by wliom it was advertised for sale in the 
spring of the present year. It is well known in the vicinity of 
Boston, and is said to be highly prized b3' those who have given it 
thorough trial. We (piote the following description: 

"An old variety, but not generally known. The vines are erect, 
slightly si)reading; leaves large, of a glossy green color; tubers 
roundish in form, slightly swelled at the centre, and terminating 
abruptl}-; eyes much depressed and numerous; skin smooth, thin, 
of a light i>ink color; flesh very solid, never hollow, and perfectly 
free from disease. Its cooking qualities are excellent, being very 
dry and mealy, free from any earthy taste, and of a snow-white color. 
They mature in ninety days from })lanting, but are not over product- 
ive. A valuable variety for faruily use. One great advantage is, 
that the tubers are fit for use wlien onh' two-thirds o-vc>wn." 



EXPERIMENTS 

IN 

POTATO GEOWinSTG 

BV 

COMPETITORS FOR THE PREMIUMS. 

(see ixtroductiox.) 



N. L. Hall, Harrisville, Ohio: 

Agreeable to conditions, I will give a brief statement of the 
crop of "Early Rose" i)otatoes raised from the peck received 
from you last fall, (1868). I planted them April 10th. The 
soil, I suppose, miglit be called a clay loam, with considerable 
gravel mixed with it. It was a stiff sod, plowed the spring 
jtrevious, and planted with sweet potatoes. I plowed the ground 
twice, and put it in good condition. The plat being too small, 
I had to crowd them more than was best, the rows being about 
■2^ feet apart, and the pieces about a foot apart in the row. 
The potatoes were cut to single eyes, and as I alwa^-s prefer it, 
were cut a few days before planting. A small shovelful of ma- 
nure was thrown into each hill, the manure iised being the re- 
mains of an old hot-bed which had been forked over several- 
times to make it fine. I covered them with about four inches 
of soil, and when the}^ began to come u^), went through them 
with the single shovel plow to cover up the weeds. When they 
were all up they were plowed with a double shovel plow and 
hoed. After this I went through them with the cultivator, and 
then hilled them up a little. This was all the working the}' got. 
Crop was dug Julj' 13th, and after drying twelve days, found I 
had TTO pounds, or 12 bushels and 50 pounds of very nice pota- 
toes. 



42 EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 

Christopher Shearer, Tuckerton, Pa. : 

The piece of land selected for the purpose of competing- for 
one of your premiums was part of a large field of limestone 
land, which had been in clover and timothy for two ^^ears pre- 
vious. In September, 18G8, I hauled well rotted barn-yard ma- 
nure (derived principally from litter of cows and horses) on the 
patch, at the rate of forty-eight tons to the acre. In the third 
week of the same month the sod was turned down to the depth 
of twelve inches. Manure of the same kind, and at the same 
rate, was then again applied to the soil, which was cross- 
plowed late in autumn to a depth of twelve inches. After 
the second plowing, a third dressing of manure, similar in quality 
and quantity, was spread on the top, where it remained during 
the winter. In the last week of March the land was again 
plowed twelve inches deep and harrowed. Of the sixty pounds 
of "Early Rose" potatoes which I had obtained from j^ou, fifteen 
pounds were accurately weighed apart, cut into single eyes, and 
planted the day following, in rows three feet apart, one eye to 
the hill, the hills being eighteen inches apart in the row. The 
work afterwards done to the crop was performed exclusively by 
hand with the hoe. As soon as the potatoes had come up the 
ground was hoed, and a week thereafter this operation was re- 
peated. When the stalks were about six inches high, they were 
hilled up and then mulched with a compost of spent tan and 
stable manure, mixed in the proportion of three parts of tan to 
one of manure. This mixture was prepared last fall (1868), and 
lay exposed to the weather over winter. It was laid in the hills 
so as to fairly cover the ground, none having been placed be- 
tween the hills or rows. The crop required no farther attention 
before maturing. The potatoes were dug on the 10th of August, 
and weighed on the 21st of the same month. The weight was 
three thousand six hundred and forty-three and a quarter pounds, 
or sixty bushels and fortj^-three and a quarter pounds. The po- 
tatoes were of large size, many of them weighing from one pound 
to one and a half pounds each. 



EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 



H. C. FisiiER, Odell, III. : 

I planted my peck of "Early Rose" ou the Otli day of April, 
on timothy sod, second breaking, without manure of any kind. 
Soil black, with yellow clay sub-soil. Hoed them twice, which 
was all the tending they had. I planted 3^ by 3 feet, and \)\\t 
one and two eyes in a hill. Could not see any difference in the 
yield betAveen the hills with one, or the ones with two eyes. But 
I fear that it is useless for mc to apply for one of the premiums, 
yet I gladly give you this statement of facts, as I know by my 
own experience that your "Early Rose" is capable of returning 
a much larger profit to the farmer than any other sort known to 
me. I dug my crop on August 13th, and had 1,027 pounds, or 
17 bushels and 7 pounds. Sixty-eight and almost a half from one, 
makes the farmers stare some. 



L. A. Williams, Glemvood, Iowa: 

On the 8th day of April, 1869, I planted one peck of "Early 
Rose" potatoes with a view of competing for premiums offered. 
The soil was a sandy loam, subdued from hazel growth in the 
spring of 1868. I cut the seed to one e3"e for each piece, and 
planted in drills or rows, one piece in a hill, about ten inches 
apart, the rows about three and one-half feet apart. The ground 
was broken about six inches deep, harrowed, and furrowed off in 
rows with a shovel plow, the seed covered with the same, and 
then harrowed immediately after planting. As soon as the pota- 
toes were large enough to plow, I plowed them with a shovel 
plow, and a week later I hoed them. After another week I 
plowed and hoed again. I used no manure. The land was up- 
land. On the l7th day of August, I dug the product of the peck 
of seed, and stored them in my barn. On this day, (September 
4th,) I weighed accurately said product, and found it to be 1,866|- 
pounds, or 31 bushels and 6|- pounds. 



44: EXPEKIIMENTS IN POTATO GKOWINO. 



Henry B. Lucas, Groves, Indiana: 

I planted my peck of "Early Rose" on black soil with an un- 
derground drain. Used stable manure ; applied in the fall of 1868 
two wagon loads on the patch. Plowed my land very deep in 
November, and again April 21st. What I call deep is about 
eight inches, that being as deep as you can go without sub- 
soiling. Planted my potatoes April 28th, in hills about two feet 
apart each way. Cut m}^ seed so as to make from one to two 
eyes to a piece, and j)ut two pieces in each hill; had 488 hills. 
Plowed first with a small shovel plow just as they were coming 
up; plowed very close to them so as to loosen the ground 
thoroughl}', and when they were four inches high, gave them a 
good hoeing. Just before the tops fell down I hoed them again, 
making a small hill. This is all the cultivation they received, 
and after weighing my crop I find I have 3,090 pounds, or 51 
bushels and 30 pounds. A })retty large yield, and in size and 
quality they can't be beaten. 



OscAK W. Mapes, Hoicells, iY. V. : 

The ground on which I planted the peck of ' ' Early Rose" 
was a sand}^ loam. I cut m^' seed into single eyes, and planted 
in drills three feet apart, and pieces two feet apart in the row. 
Plowed the ground April 12th, and cross-plowed at the time of 
planting, April 28th. Plowed out twice, and kept the weeds hoed 
out. I used fifteen cords of coarse horse manure to the acre, 
plowed under at first plowing, and fift}- bushels of slacked lime 
at the second plowing; also a small dressing of ashes and plaster 
at the first hoeing. The yield is 36 bushels and 5 pounds. 



Seth S. Barnes, Olena, III. : 

I have just dug and weighed the product of ni}- peck of "Early 
Rose" potatoes, obtained of you last fall, and here is the way I 



EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 45 



got ray great yield: I took fifteen pounds of seed, cnt them to 
single eyes, and planted them the middle of April. Half of the 
seed was planted in my garden, a part of which was a hog pen 
for several years, and the rest had rotten stable manure scattered 
over thickly at the rate of fifty two-horse loads to the acre. The 
ground was plowed deep in tlie 1^x11 and again in the spring. 
The seed I planted in rows about three feet apart, and ten 
inches apart in the row. When the potatoes were up I gave 
tliem a harrowing, a few days afterwards plowed with a two-horse 
cultivator, an<l shortly afterwards plowed them again. Dug them 
the last of August, and had 2,112 pounds, or 35 bushels and 12 
pounds. The other half acre was i^lanted on a new piece of land 
which had the prairie sod turned over two 3'ears before. I 
broke the land in the spring, planted the same as the other, and 
cultivated the same. They were dug early in September,., but as 
the gi'ound was exceedingly wet, and had been all the season, I 
was obliged to throw away about one-third of them on account 
of the rot, but I saved of sound potatoes 948 pounds, or 15 
bushels and 48 pounds, making in all 3,060 pounds, or 51 bushels 
from one peck of seed. 



Daniel D. Beckwith, Neio London, Conn. : 

As I am a competitor for one of your premiums for the largest 
yield of "Early Rose" from one peck of seed, I inclose report 
of my experiment. The ground selected was an old strawberry 
patch, rather wet, stiff soil, which was very unfavorable, as the 
season has been very wet with us. I spread barn-yard manure 
at the rate of eight cords to the acre, turned it under, harrowed 
it with tooth and bush harrow, and furrowed it about three feet 
apart; scattered coarse barn-yard manure in the furrow at the 
rate of three cords to the acre. I cut tlie potatoes to single 
ej-es as near as possible, put the sets one foot apart in the fur- 
row, and applied a small handfull of "double refined pondrette'* 



46 EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 



to each set, and covered them from three to four inches deep. 
Cultivated and hoed them but twice, and dug them on the 18th 
of August. The weight was jiist 2,221 pounds, or 37 bushels 
and 1 pound. 



John C. Clement, Kenduskeag, K. Y. : 

As soon as the planting season had arrived last spring, I told 
ni}^ boys to prepare and plant the peck of " Early Rose" I had 
purchased of you, with a view to competing for one of your pre- 
miums. The ground selected was planted with potatoes last year, 
(1868,) but with very little dressing, as we dare not manure very 
highly for fear of the rot. We used but very little manure in 
this trial, not over one pint to the hill. They were planted the 
first oC, June, with the manure binder the seed, and a little plas- 
ter thrown on the top. The rows were two feet eight inches 
apart, and eighteen inches apart in the row; seed cut to single 
eyes, and one eye to each hill. They were planted with the ' ' J. 
C. Clement Horse Hoe," and hoed with the same only once, when 
six inches high. This was all the attention thej^ received until 
the day they were dug, September 1st, and I assure you I was 
greatly astonished at the great yield. They were as large as a 
small man's foot, and as smooth as a lady's face, not a prong or a 
rotten one in the lot. The product was 35 bushels and 20 
pounds. I think I could have raised one-third more, had I known 
as I do now, that the "Early Rose" will bear high cultivation. 



H. C. Haskell, Deerfield, Mass. : 

I drop 3'ou a line to inform you as to the result of plant- 
ino- one peck of "Early Rose" bought of you last fall. The 
fifteen pounds were cut into single eye pieces, and planted in 
hills about three feet by eighteen inches apart, and fifteen pounds 
of phosphate in the hills; no other manure. Soil, sandy loam; 



EXPERIMENTS IN TOTATO GROWING. 



caine up finely; hoed four times. At tlie last hoeing there were 
250 pounds of phosphate (Glasco Co., New York,) sowed between 
the rows and hoed up in the hills. The tops covered the ground 
with a complete mat. They were dug the 9th of September, 
and weighed 2,132 pounds, or 35 bushels and 32 pounds. They 
are the best potatoes ever raised for catiiig, without a single ex- 
ception. 



Edmund B. Otis, Dover, Mass. : 

From shrinkage, or from some being stolen, the fifteen pounds 
of "Early Eose" were reduced on the first of May to twelve 
and a half pounds. The piece of land on which I planted them 
was made uj) of a deep loam}- soil, though in poor condition, it 
not having been cultivated for several j^ears past, and was at the 
time of plowing thickly matted with "witch grass." I gul> 
soiled it last Autumn twelve inches deep with a * ' Michigan 
Plow," and in the Spring I cross-plowed it again, making a fur- 
row eight inches deep. I then spread horse manure upon it at 
the rate of about five cords to the acre, cultivated it in thor- 
oughly, and furrowed it both ways three feet apart. I had cut 
out each eye of the seed potatoes into separate pieces, and in 
planting them I tried, as far as possible, to put but two pieces 
each with a single e3-e into each hill, and added a handful of 
"Fale's phosphate" to each. Thej- were planted the first of 
May, and and hoed several times to keep down the "witch 
grass." The crop was ready for market July 15th, although I 
did not harvest them till August 16th. Amount of crop was 
810:f pounds, or 13 bushels and 30^ pounds. 

H. GuNTERMAN, Georgetovm, Mo. : 

I commenced in April to prepare my ground for the "Pearly 

Rose" by giving it one good plowing, harrowed it twice, laid ofl!" 

the rows with two-horse twelve-inch plow, making the furroAvs 



48 EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GKOWING. 

about six inches deep and three and a half feet apart. On the 
2Gth of April I c\it the potatoes to single eyes, planted one eye 
in a place, about fifteen inches apart in the row. I placed them 
with the eye uppermost and covered them with the hoe. When 
they came up they were hoed once, and plowed once, which is all 
the cultivation they received. The soil is what we call a "mu- 
latto" or red soil, and is underlaid with a flint gravel. Its chem- 
ical properties I am not posted in. No manure has been applied 
to the ground for the last two years. The crop was dug Septem- 
ber 1st, weighed on the 11th. The crop is 37 bushels and 20 
pounds. 



Wm. B. Galway, Indkmola, III : 

I planted my "Early Rose'' on prairie soil, in three difl'erent 
pieces of ground, the soil of each differing somewhat from the 
others. I will describe them as Nos. 1, 2, and 3. No. 1 is of a 
clayish nature, (yellow clay sub-soil, well surface-drained,) has 
been cultivated in garden for two years. Was manured this j^ear 
with well rotted stable manure, spread on the surface about two 
inches deep, plowed under early in the spring, and plowed again 
just before planting. Planted two and a half pounds on this piece 
May 5th. The potatoes were cut one eye in a piece, and one 
piece put in each hill; rows three feet apart and hills two feet; 
plowed once with double shovel plow and hoed three times; dug 
August 28th, and dried ten days before weighing. Product 617 
pounds, or 10 bushels and 17 pounds. 

No. 2 was a timothy sod, soil clay loam, yellow clay sub-soil, 
both surface and underdrained; hogs fed on it all last summer; 
trench plowed this spring; four and one-half pounds of seed, cut 
(May 5) same as in No. 1, one piece in a hill; hills three and a 
half feet each way; plowed three times and hoed twice; dug Au- 
gust 30th, and dried same as No. 1. Product 1,388 pounds, or 
23 bushels and 8 pounds. 



EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 49 



No. 3 is a rich sandy loam, j-ellow clay sub-soil, both surface 
and underdrained; was a blue grass sod, trench plowed last year 
and in potatoes; plowed deep this spring; planted eight pounds 
May 6th. This lot was cut, planted and cultivated in the same 
manner as No. 2, and yielded 1,989 pounds, or 33 bushels and 
9 pounds. Total yield from the fifteen pounds, 3,994 pounds, or 
66 bushels and 34 pounds. 

Lot No. 1 yielded 246.8 for each pound of seed planted. 

" 2 " 308.4 " " " " 

" .3 " 248.6 " " " " 

The average yield from the 15 pounds was 266.2 pounds. 

Note. — The above competitor, Mr. Wm. B. Gal way, was 
awarded the fourth premium of fifty dollars for the fourth largest 
yield of "Early Rose" potatoes from one peck of seed, he having 
complied with all the conditions. 



Sampson Gray, Norwalk, Ohio: 

My soil was a sandy loam, manured last fall at the rate of 

thirty loads per acre, and plowed it under just before it froze up. 

This Spring I dragged it well without plowing. On the 22d of 

April we planted the potatoes, putting the rows three feet apart 

each wa}'. We cut the fifteen pounds into one thousand and ten 

pieces, some of the eyes being divided into four parts, planted 

them with the hoe, put half a shovel full of well rotted manure in 

each hill, and covered them well. They were up on the 10th of 

Ma}'. On the 26th of Ma}' we had a severe hail storm, which 

cut off and destroyed one hundred and fifty hills. The seed rotted 

in the hills and did not come up a second time. This left me 860 

hills which grew. We kept them clean, and hilled them up twice. 

The}' were dug September 4th, and weighed on the iTth of the same 

month. Product was 3,941 pounds, or 65 bushels and 41 pounds. 

The average number of hills planted with each pound of seed was 

sixty-seven and one-third. The one hundred and fiftv hills de- 

4 



50 EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 

stroyed took two and a quarter pounds of my seed, leaving twelve 
and three-quartei' pounds which grew. My yield was 309 pounds 
of potatoes from each pound of seed, and if the whole peek had 
grown the yield would have been 76 bushels and 58 poimds. My 
largest potato weighed 2 pounds and 10^ ounces. 

E. W. Young, Sweden, iV. Y. : 

On April 24th I weighed and cut fifteen pounds of "Early 
Rose," and on the 29th of the same month planted them. At the 
time of planting they weighed eleven pounds, having been ex- 
posed to the sun for two days after being cut. Planted them on 
sandy loam, in a high state of cultivation. The previous year 
the ground was planted to corn. I opened holes three feet apart 
one way and two the other; put into the bottom of each hole a 
small garden trowel full of hen manure, and covered it with about 
half an inch of soil before dropping the potatoes; put two pieces 
in each hill, most pieces containing only one eye; hoed three 
times and watered once with liquid hen manure ; dug them August 
30th, and weighed them September 10th. Yield was 2,335 pounds, 
or 38 bushels and 55 pounds. 

Eli Wickershaw, East Rochester, Ohio: 

The character of my ground was a sandy loam. The seed was 
mostly cut to single eyes, but occasionally two eyes in a piece; 
were planted in rows three and a half feet apart, one foot apart 
in the row, and one piece in a place; planted April 26th, 1869; 
hoed June 1st; passed cultivator between the rows on June 2d, 
and top-dressed the rows with wood ashes, about one barrel to 
the patch; hoed June 14th; hoed and hilled July 5th. I applied 
four two-horse wagon loads of manure from sheep sheds, and 
sowed about thirty pounds of plaster thereon before the ground 
was plowed in the spring. My crop amounts to 2,510 jjounds, or 
41 bushels and 50 pounds. 



EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 51 



J. C. Davis, Neiv Providence, loioa: 

I cut my peck of " Early Rose" into single ej^es, except where 
the eyes were of unusual size, when I cut each one into two or 
three pieces. They were planted in rows four feet apart, and 
one eye or piece put in a place, with the eye up, eighteen inches 
apart, and covered with about three inches of good loose soil. It 
was new ground, and was used for a cow lot for four or five 
years. In the Spring of 18G7 it was plowed and planted with 
rhubarb roots, which were dug up and ground plowed a week be- 
fore the potatoes were planted. On the 2'7th of May the potatoes 
were plowed with a small double shovel plow, two furrows in a 
row. Plowed in same manner on June 10th and July 3d, and 
a;fter each plowing the patch was gone over with the hoe, in order 
to cut out all weeds which were not covered with the plow. The 
potatoes were only hilled up with the plow. The yield of the 
peck was 87 bushels and 44f pounds, generally good, large sized 
potatoes. 

Note. — The above competitor, Mr. J. C. Davis, was awarded 
the Second Premium, of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, for the 
Second largest yield of "Early Rose" Potatoes from one peck of 
seed, he having complied with all the conditions. 



John M. Harrin<jton, Framingham, Mass. : 

My soil was a moist sandy loam, that had been mowed for the 
last ten years previous to plowing last fall. In March I sowed on 
two bushels of dry wood ashes, and in Ai)ril a cart load, con- 
taining thirty bushels, horse manure, and cultivated it in. I let 
it remain in this condition until the lOtli of May, then struck it 
it out three and a half feet between the rows. Cut the potatoes 
into pieces of one and two ej-es, and planted them about ten 
inches apart in the row. After they came up I plastered them. 
They grew splendidly, covering the ground with vines, and were 
dead ripe by the middle of August. Result, 1,6G2 pounds, or 27 
bushels and 42 pounds. 



52 EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 

E. Von Owen, JVapierville, III. : 

The ground whicli I selected is what is commonly- called "black 
prairie soil," the black soil being about fifteen inches deep, the 
sub-soil being yellow loam, through which the water does not pass 
very freely. This land, on which a 3'ouug orchard is growing, 
had been planted to strawberries for three years, they being the 
first crop ever raised upon it. About July 15th, 1868, after the 
strawberries had been harvested, the vines were plowed under and 
the patch sown to turnips, which, however, failed to come up on 
account of the hot and drv weather. Thus the land lay fallow 
till some time in October. I hauled on well rotted horse manure 
at the rate of fifteen loads per acre, as near as I could judge. 
This was spread out broadcast and plowed under, running the plow 
about eight inches deep. In this condition the land lay over win- 
ter. Last Spring, as soon as the land was dry enough to work well, 
which was about the middle of April, I had the land loosened up 
with a two-horse cultivator, going over it twice the same way. 
Cross-plowing could not be done on account of currant bushes 
planted between the apple trees one way. Rainy weather here 
interfered till some days later, when the horse and cultivator were 
again put to work, working the ground as deep as could l^e done 
with that implement. As the ground was j-et rather wet to plant, 
I let it lay a few days longer, when the cultivator was run over 
once more and then harrowed once, leaving the land in good con- 
dition to plant. I marked it out at once, with a common corn 
marker, about two inches deep, and rows two feet eight inches 
apart. The potatoes were cut into pieces containing one and two 
eyes, and planted eighteen inches apart in the row. Before plant- 
ing, I had a boy drop a good handful of unleached ashes right 
along in the row eighteen inches apart, and on this I planted one 
cut of the "Early Rose." Thus I planted five rows, when the 
ashes gave out, and the balance, three rows more, was planted 
right on the ground. Every hill was covered with dirt two inches 
deep. It was not many days before the joung sprouts began to 



EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 53 

push out vigorously, except on the two first rows planted. Of 
these two rows, from the centre to one end, only here and there 
a young plant was to be seen, the other half coining up entirely. 
On examination I found the seed still there, with the eye look- 
ing sound and alive, but it seemed to me that the ashes had been 
too strong for such a small piece, and in too close contact, eating 
the life out of it. I find no other reason for it, yet, why did 
not the ashes spoil the other part planted just the same way? 
When the young vines -^vere about six inches high, I commenced 
stirring the ground between the rows with a one-horse cultivator, 
going through once a week for two weeks. The work was finished 
by running the horse hoe once through each row, hilling them up 
nicely. The potatoes were dug September 6th, and after drying 
ten days, according to conditions, I found the weight to be 1,801 
pounds, or 30 bushels and 1 pound. 



Michael Jacoby, Marion, Ohio: 

I planted my "Early Rose" about the middle of May. The 
ground was manured in the Fall with barn-yard manure, and plowed 
one foot deep. In the' Spring I hauled ashes on at the rate of 
about eight good two-horse loads to the acre, and plowed deep 
again; made fine by harroAving and rolling; then furrowed out 
about three feet apart one way; cut the potatoes to single eyes, 
rolled in air-slacked lime, then put into the furrows by hand about 
one foot apart; covered with the hoe about three inches deep. 
When they were just coming out of the ground so the tops could 
be seen, I covered them with straw some eight or ten inches deep, 
then let them alone till time to dig. They were dug on the 5th 
of September, and the yield from one peck, or fifteen pounds of 
seed, was 2,724 pounds, or 45 bushels and 24 pounds. I neglected 
to say that my ground is a good limestone gravel, what we call 
here second bottom. 



54: EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 

H. H. Barnes, Albion, Mich. : 

Of the barrel of ' ' Early Rose" potatoes I purchased of 3'ou 
last Fall, I planted one peek by itself, upon clover and timothy 
sod turned over and top dressed with a thin coat of fine manure 
and harrowed in. I then marked the ground both ways in rows 
three feet apart each way, and planted one eye in a hill on the 
30th day of April last. As soon as they were up sufficiently I 
harrowed them both ways with a small harrow, once in a row. 
In due time I cultivated them with a corn digger once in a row 
each way, and had them hoed and hilled, and subsequently I 
passed through them with a shovel plow, which is all the cultiva- 
tion they received. I have 1,804 pounds, or 30 bushels and 4 
pounds. 

John Bird, Warren, III. : 

The ground selected for planting my ' ' Early Rose" potatoes 
was a clay loam, with red clay sub-soil; cultivated to potatoes 
last year, and fall-plowed good and deep, rich enough for ordinary 
crop. It was thoroughly stirred with a walking sulky in the 
Spring before planting, and laid off in drills thirty inches apart. 
Spread cow manure (well decomposed) in drills at the rate of 
forty loads to the acre, and covered it slightly with soil; cut 
the seed down to strictly one eye in a piece, planted the sets in 
drills from twelve to fifteen inches apart, one in a place, and 
covered with leaf mould drawn from grove, about two inches 
deep, then covered the whole with about one inch of soil; hand- 
hoed twice, and cultivated several times with horse and double 
shovel plow, being careful not to throw the dirt up to the po- 
tatoes, as I never hill up early potatoes. In short, the ground 
was kept in thorough condition the entire season. The potatoes 
were dug September 15th, and weighed on the 25th of the same 
month, and I had 2,507 pounds, or 41 bushels and 47 pounds. 
The "Early Rose," in quality and productiveness, reaches far 
beyond my most sanguine expectations. 



EXPEKIMENT8 IN POTATO GROWING. 65 

A. RiNKER, Jii. , Wyoming, Pa. : 

I planted my " Early Rose" on wheat stubble, clay soil. Three 
loads of stable manure were put on the ground before plowing 
and throe loads after, and a small handful of Peruvian guano 
was put in each hill before the seed was put in. The potatoes 
were cut to single eyes, and one eye put in a hill. The hills 
were three feet apart each way. They were cultivated twice, 
hoed twice, and I went through the patch once with a hiller. 
They were dug August 30th. The tubers are large, smooth and 
handsome, and weigh 1,720 pounds, or 28 bushels and 40 pounds. 



Oscar Burras, Fairfield, Ohio: 

The peck of "Early Rose" potatoes which I purchased of you 
were received October 29th, 1868, and were placed unopened in 
the cellar, where they i-emained until April 26th, 1869. On open- 
ing and weighing I found there was but fourteen pounds, they 
having shrunk in weight during the winter. The potatoes were 
cut into single eyes, and some of the eyes were split in two. I 
had 1,223 pieces. Made a bed in the following manner: For 
bottom, cobble stones and pieces of brick six inches deep; on 
this a layer of rich dirt four inches deep; then the eyes cut 
side down, (got 800 in the box, which was 2^ by 3 feet,) cov- 
ered with four inches more dirt. The balance of the eyes (423) 
wei'e placed in the garden a foot apart one way by four inches 
the other. "When there was no rain during the day thej' were 
watered with manure water at evening. As soon as the sprouts 
appeared, they were carefull}- pulled and transplanted. As soon 
as they were pulled, they were placed in a pan partly filled with 
muddy water, a hole made with the dibble, and immediately set 
out; generally set out just at night, or immediately after a shower. 
Soil a sandy loam, manured at the rate of eighty wagon loads 
per acre, which was spread the previous fall (1868). The sprouts 
were also manured with plaster and ashes, in the following 



56 EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 

proportions: three bushels of ashes and one bushel of plaster, 
thoroughly mixed and applied at the rate of a tablespoonful to 
each sprout; sprouts set out one and a half feet by three, 
plowed out twice and well hoed. A small portion were mulched 
with straw, but I could see no benefit therefrom, as the season 
was sufficiently moist First sprouts were pulled from box May 
8th, from bed May 12th. June 26th, the pieces in the bed 
were taken up and planted out. Last sprouts pulled from box 
July 20th. None were dug till the vines were dead. I finished 
digging September 16th. Amount raised on the above piece of 
ground was 5,656 pounds, or 94 bushels and 16 pounds. 

The above competitor, Oscar Burras, was awarded the First 
Premium for the largest yield of "Early Rose" potatoes from one 
peck of seed, he having complied with all the conditions. This 
premium is $200. 



W. A. Hanes and John E. Groom, Prairie City, loioa: 

In the Fall of 1868, we purchased of you one-half bushel of 
' ' Early Rose" potatoes for the purpose of competing for one or 
more of your premiums. The first peck was planted on ground 
which had been eight years under cultivation, rich, black prairie 
soil, with very little sand, and from two to three feet deep, "We 
used 150 pounds of bam-yard manure to the square rod, evenly 
spread over the ground, and plowed in ten inches deej). Planted 
single eyes in the hill, in rows two feet apart one way, and three 
feet the other. Marked out deep with single shovel plow, and 
covered one and a half inches with hoe. The first cultivating they 
received was a hoeing, then plowed with double shovel plow at 
two different times, and lastly, hoed and slightly hilled np. This 
peck yielded us 78 bushels and 22^ pounds. This is a far greater 
yield than we anticipated, and we have no hesitation in sajdng of 
the crop, that they are the largest, finest, earliest, best table 
quality, and most hardy and productive of any we have ever seen. 



EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 57 

Many of them weigh two pounds each. We are perfectly satisfied 
with our investment in the "Early Rose." The second peck was 
planted, on rolling prairie ground, and was the first crop. No 
manure was used in this case, and with this exception they were 
treated in nearly the same manner as the first peck. We realized 
from this peck 57 bushels and 30 pounds. 

These competitors, having complied with all the conditions, 
were awarded the Tldrd Premium for the third largest quantity of 
"Early Rose'" potatoes from one peck of seed, (78 bushels and 
22^ pounds.) This premium is $100. 



Lewis Beal, JVortJi Fairfield, Maine: 

My "Early Rose" were planted on a gravelly soil, broken up 
and planted to potatoes in 1867. Without dressing other than 
one spoonful of plaster and ashes to the hill, the yield was about 
100 bushels per acre. It was planted to corn in 1868, with one 
shovelful of barn-yard manure to the hill, and a tablespoonful of 
"Bradley's Super Phosphate;" it yielded about forty bushels of 
shelled corn to the acre. I cross-plowed it in the Fall, and hauled 
on old barn-yard manure at the rate of twenty loads per acre, 
(each load containing about thirty-five bushels,) with the intention 
of sowing to wheat in the Spring, but afterwards concluded to 
plant a part of it with "Early Rose" potatoes. When Spring 
came I put on jnst about as much mpre green horse manure, 
and cultivated it in with an ox cultivator. I cut my potatoes 
into single eyes first, then all the large ones I divided, some into 
two pieces and some into more. Marked the ground off in rows 
three feet apart, and placed the seed about two feet apart. I 
then put one spoonful of "Bradley's Phosphate of Lime" and 
plaster to each hill. They were hoed once and weeded once, and 
my crop was 2,284|^ pounds, or 38 bushels and 4^ pounds, an 
average of about 152 pounds from each pound of seed. 



58 EXPEEIMENTS IN POTATO GKOWING. 

Henry S. Bloom, Manteno, III. : 

Planted my potatoes May 3d, on ordinary prairie soil, in a lot 
of four acres, which had been used for three years previous as a 
hog pasture, and the last season I fattened some forty head in the 
lot, fed with corn cut up by the root. That is all the manure 
the land ever had. It was first broken up in 1845, and constantly 
cropped until four years ago, when it was seeded to red clover, 
and used as above stated since till last Spring, when it was 
broken up about eight inches deep, thoroughly harrowed and fur- 
rowed out with a shovel plow about four feet each way. Potatoes 
cut to single eyes, one piece to a hill, and covered about two 
inches deep. They were plowed once each way and hoed once, 
and that was all the cultivation they ever had. I raised 1,583 
pounds, or 26 bushels and 23 pounds. Some of the single tubers 
weighed two pounds, and quite a number rotted in the ground 
before they were dug, owing to the extremely wet weather. 



J. H. & W. Peck, Albury, Ontario: 

We selected a piece of clay loam soil, which had been used for 
yarding our cows at night for the past season. The ground was 
plowed last Fall, again plowed on the first of May, and again on 
the last of May, and planted June 1st. Cut potatoes to one and 
two eyes, and rolled the cuts in common plaster before planting. 
Put two pieces in a hill, and hills three feet apart each way. We 
hauled three cart loads of hog manure, and spread it broadcast 
on the piece of ground, (400 square yards,) and it was plowed 
under at the last plowing. They were cultivated both ways, and 
hoed on the first day of July. Cultivated and hoed again July 
21st. We dug them September 14th and 15th, and weighed on 
the 25th of the same month. The product of the peck was 2,645 
pounds, or 44 bushels and 5 pounds. This is an average of 176^ 
pounds from each pound of seed, and at the rate of 508 bushels 
per acre 



EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO GROWING. 59 

F. C. Mead, Litchfield, Mich. : 

I cut my potatoes to single eyes, sprinkled plaster on them 
when cut, planted on May 5th, on sandy ground, (timothy sod,) 
using no manure. The ground had been in grass but one year 
after wheat. Soon after the}' were up I top-dressed with plaster 
and ashes (leached) half and half, and cultivated them twice with 
five-tooth cultivator, leaving tlie gi-ound perfectly flat. They re- 
ceived no further attention. One side of the patch was a little 
the lowest, and the water settled on that side and drowned them 
out. I got three-fourths of my crop from half the seed and half 
the ground. I planted them two eyes in a hill, three feet apart 
each way. They weighed 18 bushels and 58f pounds. 



J. E. Eaton, Blooming dale, Mich. : 

I think my "Pearly Rose" have done well, considering the 
chance the\' have had, as I raised sixt}^ bushel by measure from 
ray peck of seed, and I think there would be more than that b}^ 
weight, as my basket held rather more than a bushel. I planted 
them on good land, though part of it was rather heavy soil for 
this season. On the sandy land the potatoes were the largest. 
Put one eye in a hill; hills from eighteen to twenty inches apart 
one way and about three feet the other. I got eight pounds from 
many of the hills, and some as high as eleven. Many of the 
tubers weighed one and a half pounds, and some nearly two pounds. 
I put plaster in the hills when they were planted, and plastered 
them again after the first hoeing. Hoed them twice and cultivated 
several times. 



Note. — These reports represent but a small portion of the 
•ompetitors, but we have not space to publish any more. We 
would here remark that most of these reports are well authenti- 
cated, and the four to whom the premiums are awarded are cer- 
tified to under oath. 



EXTRACTS. 



In the Spring of 1868, Rev. W. T. Wylie, of Newcastle, Pa., 
issued a small pamphlet devoted to the potato, its culture, dis- 
eases, <fec. Mr. W. is an accomplished amateur cultivator, and 
the little book referred to contained many valuable hints and sug- 
gestions which are worthy of a more extensive circulation among 
those interested. We are kindly permitted to give the following 
extracts from its pages: 

DISEASES. 

The potato, which was originally an insignificant tuber, has, by 
high cultivation for many years, been brought to great perfection. 
The attempt to force it, by rich manures, beyond its capacity, 
has led to disease and degeneration. 

The diseases to which it has been liable for some years past 
seriously affect its value as a crop. In the year 1844, the potato 
crop suffered most disastrously in the United States, while it ap- 
peared in a serious form in Ireland and many parts of Europe. 

This disease, under the various names of mildew, murrain, rot, 
and pestilence, has been carefull}^ studied by scientific men and 
practical agriculturists, and as yet no perfectly satisfactory ex- 
planation of it can be given. Certain conditions of seed, soil, ma- 
nure and culture, have been found to contribute to the health of 
the crop, and these should be carefully studied by those who 
plant. 

Another disease, known as Drj' Rot, has in some places greatly 
damaged the potato crop. 

An injury to the leaves, which is called the " Curl," is supposed 
to be entirely prevented by separating the sprouts from the tuber 
before planting them. 



EXTRACTS. 61 



Protz, of Germany, sa3-s that the potato plaut is intended by 
nature not only to inoduce tubers, for the supply of an abundance 
of healthful food for man and beast, but also to iiroduce seeds for 
the purpose of multiplying varieties. 

By pursuing a method of cultivation which may stimulate the 
growth of the tops, the cells of the stalks contain too much wa- 
ter, and cannot sufficiently harden into wood, and therefore the 
flowers fall without forming capsules, and the development of the 
plant is checked just before the seeds begin to be formed. 

As soon as the stalks are thus checked, a fungal growth attacks 
them. The tubers are at first deprived of the aid of healthy 
stalks, which they require in order to reach their maturity, and 
thus their regular growth is checked. Then the fungi spread 
from the stalks to the tubers, affecting those nearest the surface 
first. 

The effects of this disease are greatly dependent on the weather. 
Wet seasons so favor the spreading of the fungi, that they soon 
destroy the crop. In order to escape this disease, the following 
points are considered important: 

1. Seed. — Select well matured, sound seed, of the 7nost healthy 
varieties. 

2. Soil. — Plant, as far as possible, on new soil, or on ground 
which has not had an application of rich manure for several 
3-ears. 

3. Manures. — Avoid all strong, partially decomposed manures. 
Use vegetable substances as far as practicable for manuring. Turn 
under old meadows, or a clover sod. 

4. Culture. — Plow deep, and thoroughly pulverize the soil; 
and encourage the growth of the tuber rather than the stalk. 

Note. — Land recently enriched with manure from the barn is 
peculiarly liable to induce or aggravate the disease. 

There are several insects which, in some sections, have proved 
serious enemies to the potato crop. The circumstances of each 



62 EXTEACTS. 

case will suggest the best remedies at hand for such attacks. I 
found the free use of slacked lime, dusted over and among the 
tops, an effectual check to the potato bug this season. When a 
rain would wash it off, I repeated the dusting. From five pounds 
of Early Rose treated in this way twice when the bug attacked 
them, I dug two hundred and forty-eight pounds. Each intelli- 
gent cultivator should study the nature of the potato, the natural 
conditions essential to health, and from these he will readily get 
hints as to the best method to remedy disease. 

METHODS OF CULTIVATION. 

1. Time to Plant. — In our Northern and Eastern States, the 
season extends from the first of May to the last of June; but 
the opinion of every cultivator with whom I have talked is, that 
early planting, as a rule, is by far the best. The earlier in the 
season the potato gets a start, the more likely it is to escape 
Summer droughts, the attacks of the potato bug, and any influence 
unfavorable to its growth and maturity. 

2. Soil. — Two things here require attention, the selection of 
soil and its preparation. 

As to the first point, for planting take 7iew ground, if you 
can get it. A hazel thicket in the West will furnish potatoes 
which cannot be excelled in quantity or quality. Next to new 
ground comes soil rich in vegetable substances, as old meadows, 
or fence rows which have been uncultivated for years, also old 
clover sod. As to the second point, preparation of soil, I do 
not suppose that one cultivator in one hundred will give it the 
time, thought and care it deserves. 

Plow in the Fall as deeply as possible. Leave your ground 
in ridges, so that the frost can thoroughly pulverize it. Take 
the first of Spring to work your lot over thoroughly, and, if pos- 
sible, sub-soil. Never think of working less than 20 or 24 inches 
deep; then neither rains nor drought will seriously affect your crop. 



EXTRACTS. 63 



3. Manure. — Avoid all strong, undecomposed stable manures; 
better not manure at all than use such. Use vegetable manures, 
bones, with lime, plaster and ashes. 

4. Sets. — You may plant whole potatoes, or single ej'es, or 
pieces with several eyes, as your experience, or that of others 
whom you can trust, suggests. Some say plant only the largest; 
others say the smallest are better. Unless your small potatoes 
are loell matured^ the large are undoubtedly better. 

If you cut up potatoes and plant early, let them lie several days 
spread out, until the cut surface dries. The seed will be more 
certain to grow. 

5. Mode of Planting. — May be in drills, or in the hill. Early 
planting should be so deep that, if the frost kills the tops, the 
dormant eyes will make a second start. 

Avoid getting the sets too close, especially if you plant in 
drills. For thorough horse cultivation, the rows should be three 
feet apart, and the sets twelve or fifteen inches apart in the rows, 
especially for strong growing kinds like the Harison. 

As to the comparative advantages ot the hill or drill method, 
opinions are so various and conflicting that you would do well to 
experiment for yourself. I once advocated the hill, but I am now 
convinced that I can secure a larger return by planting in drills. 
Shall we keep the surface fiat or throw it into ridges? 

Very few have tried the flat surface plan, I suppose ; but a care- 
ful perusal of Mr. Harison's method, and a practical test, will no 
doubt repay men who make it. I append Mr. Harison's rules in 
full to this article. 

Spreading the potatoes on the sod and covering to a depth 
of one foot with straw, has given such satisfaction to some 
farmers that they continue it from year to year, using all their 
spare straw in this way. 

6. Digging. — Wait until the tops are dead, and do nut wait 
too long after that. Dig in dry weather. Let them be thor- 
oughly dry when you store in a cool, dry cellar. Be careful not 



64 EXTRACTS. 



to put them away in close barrels, for fear of sweating. Some 
highly recommend the use of freshly slacked lime, in the pro- 
portion of one pint to a barrel of potatoes, spread over them 
as they are stored in the cellar or pit. If you pit your crop, 
select high, dry ground; cover with five or six inches of straw, 
then six inches of soil, then three or four of straw, and another 
covering of eai'th; as the weather becomes severe, add a load 
or two of stable manure. A sheaf of straw set on the top of 
the pit will furnish ventilation and keep out the frost. 

I last Fall put forty-eight bushels of Early Goodrich into such 
a pit, and in the Spring took out forty-eight bushels. By all 
means secure dramage and ventilation, with perfect exclusion from 
the air and light. 

I will close this article b}- giving A. W. Harison's method. 

HOW TO RAISE LARGE CROPS OF POTATOES. 

It is desirable not only to get the best varieties for seed, but 
to know how to plant them, and to raise the largest and best 
crop. The method I pursue, and which pays better, far better 
than any of the old systems generally' practiced, is as follows: 

1. In the Fall plow deeply, and sub-soil plow, in all eighteen to 
twenty inches deep. 

2. In early Spring, plow and sub-soil across the winter furrows, 
harrow, and roll. 

3. Mark out, as for corn, three feet apart each way, opening 
the furrows eight inches deep. 

4. At the intersection drop a *whole potato, the largest you have, 
and spread upon it a handful (about fort}^ bushels per acre) of a 
compost made of eight parts of wood ashes, four of bone phos- 
phate of lime, four of fine ground plaster, two of finely slacked 
lime, and one of salt; or, if preferred, three ounces of artificial 
fertilizer per hill. Then cover, roll, and spread one thousand 
pounds per acre of good artificial fertilizer. 

* See NOTK page 66. 



EXTRACTS. 65 



5. As soon as the young plants appear, run the cultivator close 
to and between, but not over them, in each direction. Afterward, 
and before the weeds come up, cultivate, both ways, with Knox's 
horse-hoe — so arranged as to cut as shallow as possible, and keep 
the surface entirely flat. Repeat this, at short intervals, three 
times. Then hand-hoe three times, still keeping a flat surface. 
Allow no hilling at any time, nor any weeds to grow. 

t). As soon as the tops are dead, dig in clear dry weather, 
with heavy five-tined digging-forks; spread, under cover, to dry, 
and store in a cool, dark, dry, airy cellar, spreading half a pint 
of freshly slacked limie, in powder, on each bushel of potatoes. 

7. Gather and compost the dry tops for application next Au- 
tumn; then i^low and sub-soil as before for next year's crop. 

The advantages of this S3'stem of cultivation are: 

1. No possible entire failure of the crop. 

2. No rot in healthy varieties. 

3. The largest yield the soil and variety are capable of. 

4. The . largest proportion of large potatoes. 

5. No degeneracy of varieties, but continued improvement. 

6. No necessity for rotation of crops. The potato can thus be 
grown almost indefinitely on the sam« land, with, perhaps, at long- 
intervals, a seeding to clover, to maintain the supply of vegeta- 
ble fibre in the soil. 

7. No loss by late Spring frosts. If the early growth is cut 
oft', the dormant eyes will grow and the crop be saved. 

8. The greatest economy of culture and harvesting. 

9. The highest table quality of potato. 

If the materials for the compost can not be obtained, top-dress 

heavily in the Fall, after plowing, with barn manure, but never 

use it in the season of planting. It may increase the crop, but 

tends to engender disease, especially in wet seasons. 

If you want liberal crops, you must give liberal culture. 

.5 



66 EXTRACTS. 



]s^OTE. — "With all due respect to Mr. Harisou, and his opinion, 
as an older and more experienced potato grower, we do not be- 
lieve he is right in advocating the planting of so many ej^es in 
a hill. During the prevalence of the "potato mania," and the 
hio-h prices placed upon new varieties, every cultivator has made 
it his aim to raise as large a quantity of potatoes from the seed 
planted as possible. In most cases the seed has been cut into 
single eyes, and the reports of hundreds, yes, thousands, of ex- 
perimenters give evidence that with strong, healthy and vigorous 
varieties, more than one eye in a hill is a loss rather than a gain. 
No one will doubt that by planting whole tubers, a greater nmn- 
ber of potatoes will be produced, but careful experiments, and the 
experience of others, convince us that where smaller quantities 
of seed are planted, the potatoes attain a much larger growth, 
produce more marketable tubers, and a larger yield to the aere. 
— [Best. 



EXTRACTS 



FROM THE 



AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 



The following items relative to the culture of the potato, are 
selected from the xery best of our agricultural papers, and con- 
sist of editorials, and correspondence from practical men in ra- 
rious sections of the countr3^ We receive regularly from fifteen 
to twenty different agricultural papers, and for nearly two years 
past have made it a practice to cut out and preserve all items 
on the potato and its culture. In selecting the following items, 
we have read carefully over Jive hundred articles on similar sub- 
jects, and have chosen these, believing that they contain more 
valuable instruction than all of the rest. In each case credit is 
given to the paper from which the item is taken, and we would 
here remark that no paper is represented here which is not worth}- 
of the hearty support of every one who is interested in agricul- 
tural literature. 

Potato Culture— How the Crop is Crown by Reisig &, Hexamer. 

Weekly Sun, February 3d, 1869. 

One of our most enterprising farmers and fruit growers is Dr. 
F. M. Hexamer, whose place is two or three miles north of the 
Hon. Horace Greele3''s at Chappaqua, Westchester county. The 
doctor is an educated German phj'sician, in the prime of life, 
and enthusiastic in his present calling. He brings science to bear 
on his agricultural operations ; but he is also well conversant with 
the practical details, especially for a young farmer of only six 
years' experience. Associated with him is his father-in-law, Dr. 



68 EXTRACTS FKOM THE AGRICULTUKAL PRESS. 

Reisig, a highly respectable practising physician of this city. To 
those who know Dr. Hexamer it will not seem anything like 
puffery when we say it is to be regretted thei'e is not such a man 
in every town, and even school district, the country over, since 
the example of such cultivators among the surrounding farmers 
would do as much good as all the agricultural newspapers and 
books published. For the great mass of our tillers of the soil 
are notably shy of printed farming, and are only convinced, and 
sometimes hardly then, by tangible proof. The subject of our 
remarks has shed light enough about him to make the fortunes 
of the farmers in his neighborhood, if they will only avail them- 
selves of his practical teachings. First, he has erected a large 
and admirabl}' planned barn, too expensive, it is true, for any 
but the rich to copy in full, bat replete with valuable hints to 
those building on a moderate scale; or some of its features could 
be readily added to most existing structures at small expense. 
His mode of producing large quantities of manure from limited 
means is especially worthy the attention of those who make less 
than a quarter as much from equal facilities. He obtains about 
two thousand good loads (one thousand cords) of prime compost 
from the liquid and solid droppings of fifteen head of stock, with 
a little addition from an adjoining slaughter-house. How many 
of our farmers conceive it possible to effect such a result, and 
what is worse, refuse to have anything to do with muck, sods, 
and leaves, which are the principal agents in the multiplication. 
Space does not admit at present to speak of this most conve- 
nient barn in detail, though an interesting chapter might be 
written on several of its features, such as the manure pits at- 
tached to its stables, the process of gathering and storing leaves 
for bedding, the ice-house, mode of handling the ground and cut 
feed, vinegar and potato cellar, (fee, &c. 

We advise every farmer in Westchester county to call and see 
the doctor, who will take pleasure in explaining to those really 
interested, not only the mysteries of his great barn, but also 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGKICULTURAL PRESS. 69 

give some clue to other facts which underlie the success he has 
thus far achieved in tilling the soil. 

Perhaps Dr. Hexamer is best known as an expert in potato 
culture; and it is rather as a preface to this topic that we have 
written what the reader has now perused. This favorite esculent, 
so universally eaten throughout the United States, probabl}- amounts 
to a much larger crop than many suppose. The yield of the whole 
countr}' has been estimated to reach in favorable seasons 150,- 
000,000 bushels. All know that a malignant disease has seriously 
diminished its aggregate production for several years past, and 
baffled all efforts to arrest it. During the last two seasons the 
annual loss to growers from this source is supposed to have been 
80 per cent., or 45,000,000 bushels, worth at least $35,000,000. 
This wide-spread evil has created much uneasiness, not only 
among producers, but also with consumers, lest so healthful and 
convenient a vegetable should become scarce, and consequently 
high priced. As no one has yet found a specific remedy for the 
potato rot, a partial preventive has been put in practice, and is 
likely to prove something more than "the next best thing;" it is 
the substitution of new and supposed hardy varieties for the 
favorite but deteriorated old ones. Thus the now celebrated Early 
Rose promises to nearly or quite equal that prince of fine fla- 
vored potatoes, the justly esteemed Mercer. But in order to keep 
growers supplied with not only new and hardy, but also very 
choice sorts, a good deal of time and money must be expended 
in experimenting with new seedlings. We have alreadj' noticed 
some successful efforts in this direction in The Weekly Sun, 
and shall chronicle the most important of them from time to 
time for the benefit of our readers. 

Dr. ITexaraer has not occupied himself with originating va- 
rieties, but devotes much time to testing all he can obtain of 
more than average promise. He applies thorough though not 
strictly high cultivation, and the results thus attained are of pub- 
lic value, as showing what kinds are hardy oi otherwise in his 



70 BXTEACTS FKOM THE AGEICULTUEAL PRESS. 



latitude and on certain soils. Last year the doctor raised about 
two hundred distinct varieties, and during the coming season he 
will cultivate not less than three hundred. His crop of 1868 
amounted to 1,800 barrels of sound potatoes from 27 acres of 
land. About one-tenth of the whole were diseased. Many farm- 
ers and others who grow but one or two of the old kinds lost 
one-quarter to one-third of their crop. Dr. Hexamer's loss was 
mainly confined to a comparatively few varieties. The two past 
seasons were especially unfavorable to the cultivation of this es- 
culent. Both were unusually wet, though not in like months. 
The latter part of the growing season of 1867 was wettest, hence 
late potatoes suffered more from the rot than early ones. In 1868 
the reverse was the case. 

The most prolific potato in Reisig A: Hexamer's ground last 
year was the Cuzco, averaging 392 bushels to the acre. The Hari- 
son "followed hard upon," reaching 389 bushels. These two va- 
rieties completely distanced all others, as the next highest on the 
list only came up to 264 bushels. The last named tuber is be- 
coming a great favorite with market men in particular, being de- 
scribed as large, skin smooth and white, eyes small, flesh white, 
fine grained and of good flavor, solid to the core, keeps well, and 
is, of course, hai'dy. The Harison seems to occupy a place among 
late potatoes corresponding to that of the wonderful Rose among 
the earlies. With Dr. Hexamer it thrives best in drjj- soils, though 
it has done fairly in low grounds. Next to the Cuzco and Hari- 
son the doctor would rank the Lapstone, Kidney, Gleason, and 
Pinkeye Rustj^coat. As to the earlies, his experience confirms 
that of many others in placing the Rose fairly in advance of all 
known varieties. He would still esteem the Goodrich, though it 
did not maintain its former high reputation last season, and in 
some other localities rotted badly. The early Cottage and Sebec 
rank high, and the Dykeman does well in most soils. "Bresee's 
No. 4," also an early, (one of the varieties tasted at the dinner 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 



of B. K. Bliss tt Son, as lately reported in The Weekly Sun,) 
has succeeded fairly with the doctor. 

All of tlie above named varieties date hack but a very few 
years, and the names of some of them will probably be entirely 
new to the general reader. The Mercer, which for a long time 
ruled supreme through this part of the country, has almost uni- 
versally yielded to disease (and old age!) and been discarded. 
Some grower on Long Island did, indeed, raise a good healthy 
crop of them last year; but there is reason to fear it was an 
exceptional case, and is not likely to lead to permanent improve- 
ment. The late favorites. Prince Albert and Peachblow, are doubt- 
less thoroughly infected with the rot, and are no longer cultiva- 
ted with profit. The Peachblows in market come from the West. 

As Dr. Hexamer grows potatoes exclusively for seed — and they 
must, therefore, be fully matured and in prime condition — and as 
he is known to obtain large yields, and is believed to be thor- 
oughly up on this subject — our readers will, of course, be pleased 
to know something of his mode of cultivation. He prefers a 
clover sod, pastured during the season if the soil is in pretty fair 
condition, turned over late in the Fall and cross-plowed in the 
Spring. If the land selected has been a timothy meadow, and 
especially if the soil is thin, he would fertilize very moderatelj' 
at most. He relies mainly on thorough tillage, plows the crop 
only twice, but sends his men through again and again, if neces- 
sary, to hand-pull all the weeds. Heavy manuring, moreover, is 
thought to create a favorable condition of disease in the tuber, 
particularly in a wet season, or if the soil is naturally moist and 
rich. The doctor finds that planting may be safely done as late 
as the middle of June. He invariably plants in rows two and a 
half feet apart each way; his chief reasons being that the young 
weeds are more easily subdued, and the soil more completel}' 
stirred than when the crop is grown in drills. In order to inform 
himself on the topic of proper selection of seed, the doctor has 
experimented largely with whole potatoes, large, medium and 



72 EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 

small sized, divided and sub-divided, with buds (e3-es) of diflereut 
numbers, and with none at all. Though the heaviest 3'ield re- 
suited from large, uncut potatoes, the most profitable crop, he 
thinks, will follow a selection of seed in which the number of 
potatoes below the medium size predominates (excluding ver}^ 
small ones). The medium sized tubers are cut in two pieces, and 
the large ones are quartered. If the weather should be damp 
about the time of planting, the seed may properly be prepared a 
day or two in advance. 

When the crop is ripe and ready to be secured, a A^ery perti- 
nent question is, how to unearth it most easil}' and cheaply. In 
prairie, and most alluvial soils, manj^ would sa}-, use the plow. A 
son of Erin might "recommiud the spade, yer honor;" others the 
spading fork, hoe, or common potato hook. Dr. Hexamer has 
answered this question to the satisfaction of himself and a good 
many besides. He has engrafted on the potato hook long in use, 
two additional tines, making six in all, and calls the instrument 
a "pronged hoe." 

The potato is a valuable article of food, and as the standard 
vegetable on the tables of all classes, should be plentiful and 
cheap. 

The singular malady which has infected it for a few years 
past, has caused great loss to growers, and deterred many from 
raising it as a market crop. It is to be hoped that the efforts 
of such men as Dr. Hexamer, and those experimenting with 
new seedlings, will restore confidence in its reliabilit}', and also 
lead to the introduction of perfectly hardy and very choice 
varieties. 

MANAGEMENT OF THE POTATO.CROP. 
Country Gentleman, August 13th, 1868. 

Although rather unseasonable for practical advantage this 3'ear, 
I am led to make a few suggestions in addition to, or modifica- 
tion of, my article on "The Potato — its Culture," (published on 
page 249, vol. 29, Country Gentleman,) from a suggestion received 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTCKAL PRESS. 



ii-om ii correspondent (who probably overlooked the article referred 
to,) in West Virginia, who says he has been a "constant reader 
of the Country Gentleman for a dozen years or more," that an 
article from my pen on potato culture would be acceptable to 
the readers of the Country Gentleman., &c. He sa3's he has grown 
potatoes yearly, with an average yield of two hundred bushels per 
acre ; but desiring to increase the area and grow a premium crop 
the coming j^ear, wishes to obtain further information. From this 
letter I judge he is now pretty well posted, and ought to give 
the public the benefit of his experience through the Country 
Gentleman. His selection of lands to be appropriated to the coming 
crop is part in clover, not having been turned for five years, and 
part in timothy, turned once since 1854. He does not state what 
the soil is, whether a clay, sandy loam, or what; but from his letter 
I gather the soil is an appropriate one for the crop, and from its 
being in clover in part, I judge it to be well adapted to potatoes. 

M}' views of the potato and its culture, are prett}- well expressed 
in the article referred to above, to which I wish to call attention; 
but with additional experience and research, some little modification 
on some points is the result. 

That the potato can be grown successfull}- with the same negli- 
gence of culture as formerly, is plainly' untrue. What the reason 
of this change is, is a question that has never yet been solved; and 
whether it ever regains its former hardiness, remains for time to 
determine. At present we know that, if we would grow good crops 
of potatoes, we must give them suitable soil, in good condition, 
and thorough culture. 

A soil ma}' be in condition to grow a large crop of tops, j'et but 
few tubers, as an excess of certain ingredients in a soil tends to 
produce foliage, while another set tends to form tubers. To pro- 
duce best effects, these different qualities should be equalized. The 
best potatoes for eating, although less profitable for market, are 
those grown in soil of moderate fertility, growing medium sized 
tul)ers; yet fevv who [lurchase for their own consumption seem to act 



74 EXTRACTS FKOM THE AGRICULTUEAL PKESS. 

as if they believed it, for a large sized potato will sell in preference 
to a medium sized one, generally. 

A timothy or clover sod, if the soil be other ways suitable, not 
subject to either drouth or wet, is an excellent soil for growing good 
potatoes on, if properly plowed and put in condition. Unless the 
sod be well turned and suitably compacted, a drouth is more apt to 
affect the crop than on old ground; j^et taking one season with 
another, the sod is the preferable selection. The plowing should be 
with a narrow furrow slice, and not less than eight inches deep, if 
the supersoil will admit of it; rolled to compress, and then well 
harrowed, to fine the soil. The proper preparation of the soil equals 
one-half a good crop. Animal or rank manures should not be 
applied to the crop, but the soil may be enriched through previous 
crops with such manures, or mild compost manures may be applied 
and worked into the soil, and the seed planted; but an old sod will 
usually furnish just the nutriment needed by the crop. 

Were I to attempt a premium crop on my correspondent's soil, 
(farm manure being out of question, as he says, except plenty of 
barley straw,) I would use one of the following preparations, and 
compost my straw with swamp muck, salt and lime, or sods, &c. , 
and use it for other crops : Take one hundred and fifty pounds of 
Peruvian guano and mix it with three hundred pounds of plaster, 
fresh ground ; or ten bushels of wood ashes, two bushels of lime and 
one of salt, well mixed some two or three weeks before using; either 
of these to the acre. Plow and harrow as above, as early in Spring 
as the ground would work drj^; then lay off' my rows three or three 
and one-half feet apart, with a one-horse plow, making a furrow four 
to six inches deep ; into these furrows drop my fertilizer, and close 
beside it drop my seed; distance depending upon the size of growth 
of the top, (a large growing variety requiring more room than a 
smaller one,) from sixteen to twenty-four inches apart. Moderate 
sized, well ripened, whole tubers, are best for planting; but sets of 
good size, with two or three eyes, will do where the seed is changed 
once in a few years. With the small plow turn a light furrow back, 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 75 

covering the potatoes three inches deep. Just before the young- 
plants break through the ground, take a square seed harrow, turn it 
bottom up, and drag it crossways the rows over the field. This 
destroys any weeds, and equals a dressing, leveling and smoothing 
the surface. 

After the plants break through the ground, apply a light top- 
dressing, say ii small tablespoonful to a hill, of the same fertilizer 
as above. After-culture consists in twice plowing, with a light 
furrow, towards the plants, and finishing by following with the 
hand-hoe, to mend baulks and destroy any weeds left. Lay them 
by as soon as they come into blossom. If any weeds show them- 
selves, pull or cut them out. Clean culture pays. 

Harvest the potatoes before the Fall rains, and when the ground 
is not wet. A bright sun will soon injure unearthed potatoes; 
therefore they ought not to lie exi)osed to its rays, when clear. 
Gather, and store in a dry, uniform low temperature, not subject 
to frosts, &c. — a dark cellar is best — qr market soon as convenient, 
storing in the meantime in a dark room, if not carried immediately 
from the field. Every handling adds to the expense of the crop, 
deducting just so much from net profit. 

As to machines for digging, I am not posted, never having seen 
any in operation. I am informed that where large quantities of 
potatoes are grown, they have machines for cutting, jDlanting, and 
also for digging; but with what success they work I am unable 
to sa3\ White skinned and fleshed potatoes are usually preferable 
to colored skinned, but more liable to accidents than the latter. 

As to the varieties, they are numerous, and almost every market 
has a preference; so it would be impossible to recommend any 
particular variety that would siiit every market, and all soils. 

W. H. White. 



76 EXTEACTS FKOM THE AGKICULTURAL PRESS. 

CULTURE OF POTATOES. 

Country Gentlemau, September 5th, 1S6S. 

"Messrs. Eus. — Will Mr. "W. H. White, who, in the Country Gentleman of 13th 
August, recommends breaking up sward, after three or four years mowing, and 
planting potatoes and corn, bo good enough to state the manner of planting and 
cultivating pursued by him, and also whether he thinks the same system would do 
with land over limestone, somewhat stiff and heavy, though not clayey, and oblige 

^^ Kingston, Canada. " D. S." 

In replying to the abcse, I would refer your correspondent to 
my former articles on "The Potato, — its Culture," and "Manage- 
ment of the Potato Crop," published in the Country GentlemoM 
under date, and referred to in article of August 13th. Yet, for 
convenience, I will here briefly repeat, and give m}- mode of 
planting, cultivating, <fec. Select soil rather dry, or that perfectly 
well drained ; plow and fine the soil as thoroughly as for a premium 
crop of any kind, as earl}' in Spring as the soil will work freely 
and well, and plant; as early planted prove the best crops. The 
soil, if an old sod, will usually be in good heart for potatoes. If it 
has been cultivated to corn or tobacco — either of which I use for 
potatoes — and is in good heart from manure previously' applied, 
where tobacco was the preceding crop, no fertilizer is applied, 
unless it be tobacco stalks cut fine, a small double-handful to the 
hill; but where they follow corn or a sod, apply guano and plaster, 
or plaster and ashes, leaving out the salt and lime, as they appear 
to have an injurious effect on tobacco, and we grow that as one 
crop in the rotation. 

I open my drills for planting with a one-horse plow, four or five 
inches deep, drop m}- fertilizer, when applied, two or two and a-half 
feet apart, according to growth of tops of potatoes, and drop mj^ 
potatoes beside it if guano, or on it if ashes; with my one-horse 
plow turn back the furrow, covering the potatoes four or five 
inches deep. 

For seed, I prefer to use whole potatoes, of a size selected 
below those for table use, and above the smallest, yet when seed 
is scarce I cut medium sized tubers in halves, and place one whole. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. {~ 

or one half, iii each hill. I believe, from my experience, that this 
cutting potatoes in small sets tends to weaken and the deterioration 
of the crop. See the reports of the Early Goodrich: "My Earl^- 
Goodrich are not as good as last year!" and such like complaints 
come to us, which I have no doubt is the result of minute sub- 
division of tubers for seed; and if similar complaints are not 
heard of the Early Rose within a few years, I shall find myself 
mistaken. I know that where I have used sets instead of whole 
tubers, the potato has deteriorated much more rapidly in quality 
and health. 

As soon or just before the potato plants break the surface, 
take a harrow, turn it bottom or teeth up, and drag it over the 
field; this equals a first dressing; after-culture consists in twice 
plowing with the one-horse plow, turning the furrow towards the 
row, and mending with the hand-hoe, the last working just as the 
plants begin to show blossom. If weeds show after, cut or pull 
them out by hand. Harvest before Fall rains, and dry before 
storing in a dark, cool cellar. As a result of storing them before 
drying, last year I did so to some extent, and the potatoes had 
a rank, strong flavor, and had to be overhauled. 

I believe in raising the soil around the plants, making a hill, 
not very higli or conical, as more conducive to the health of the 
crop, and as growing a better crop. 

If your limestone soil is well drained, dry, and in good heart, 
and can be fined so as to grow good crops of Indian corn or grain, 
I see no reason why it will not grow good potatoes with similar 
fertilizers, leaving out the lime, as I recommend in the article of 
August 13th, and with the same treatment as pursued in the above 
experience. A hard soil is no objection for potatoes, if it is not 
inclined to be wet, as I have eaten potatoes grown on hard, stony 
soils, of as good flavor as any I ever ate. The natural soil of 
the potato is a stony or rocky one. 

SoiUh Windsar, Conn., Sept. 28, 1868. Wm. H. White. 



78 EXTKACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAI. PRESS. 



THE CULTURE OF POTATOES. 

Country Gentleman, November 19th, 1S68. 

In your issue of October IStli, Mr. W. H. White, (whose articles, 

by the way, abound in practicul good sense and judgment,) writing 

on the culture of potatoes, says: 

'' For seed, I prefer to use whole potatoes, of a size selected below those for table 
use, and above the smallest. * # * i believe, from my experience, that 
this cutting potatoes in small sets tends to weaken and deteriorate the crop. See the 
reports of the Early Goodrich: 'My Early Goodrich are not as good as last year!' 
and such like complaints come to us, which I have no doubt is the result of minute 
subdivision of tubers for seed; and if similar complaints are not heard of the Early 
Rose, within a few years, I shall find myself mistaken." 

Mr. White thus starts anew a very important question, which 
ought to be thoroughly discussed, experimented upon, and settled; 
for, although he seems to be so entirely satisfied on the subject 
himself, there are many who, like the writer, will feel great 
surprise at his experience, and whose experience and conclusions 
have been just the opposite of his. Had I been giving what I 
deemed the best mode of cultivating this great product, I should 
have recommended the character of soil, the opening of the drills, 
the application of Peruvian guano and plaster, and the distance of 
the seed apart, exactl}^ as spoken of by Mr. White; but upon the 
kind of seed to be used, and its preparation, I should have recom- 
mended a course just the reverse. Why should whole potatoes be 
planted? Every eye on a potato (if sound) gives rise to a vine, 
and forms a root. If, therefore, there are a number of eyes planted 
together, as must be the case where a whole potato is deposited in 
the ground, can the vines flourish as they would if grown separately 
and a considerable distance apart? They certainly could not; and 
the inevitable consequences of thick bunches growing from so many 
ej'es, will be potatoes of uneven size, many verj' small, and unripe 
when taken iip, even late in the Autumn. I had found this to be 
the case with many crops when the seed had been cut into large 
pieces of uniform size, without regard to the number of eyes. 
Consequently, when the very question of whole seed planting, or 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 79 

cut planting, was Ijeing agitated, I determined to try the plan 
which seemed to be most in accordance with common sense, 
remembering that if too many branches are snfl'ered to remain 
an an apple tree, or too many apples to remain on the branches, 
the fruit would be very imperfect, and of ver^' small size. Ac- 
cordingly-, I carefully cut the seed so as to leave but one eye in 
a piece, and dropped the pieces about eighteen inches apart. The 
result was a fine crop of large potatoes, of uniform size, there not 
being small ones enough from an acre of ground to furnish Mr. 
White seed sufficient to raise enough potatoes for dinner. The 
potatoes from which these one-ej'e pieces were cut were selected 
from the largest of the previous year's crop; and here, I think, is 
l)robabl3' the difficulty with Mr. White's crops when they so rapidly 
deteriorated. Instead of selecting the largest, most perfect and 
ripest for seed, he used a size below those for table use, and planted 
them whole. The combination of these two causes — seed not 
thoroughly ripe, and plants being too thick — will manifestly dete- 
riorate any crop. My motto for potato growing now is : The largest 
and most perfect seed, cut into one-eye 2neces, and jylanted wide apart. 

On the first day of June last, I planted two and a-half bushels of 
Buckeyes and two bushels of Merrimacs, altogether occupying 
about three-quarters of an acre of land. For nearly four weeks 
after they were put in the ground, not a drop of rain fell. Again, 
during the whole of the month of Jul}', a most distressing drouth 
prevailed. The latter part of the season was more favorable, and 
on the 3d of October, I put my diggers to work, and found that 
I had one hundred bushels of ver}- fine, perfectly ripe potatoes, 
with no small ones whatever. 

One word more as to deterioration. It is established beyond 
question that seed used in rotation from successive crops will, in 
the course of a few years, show rapid deterioration, and if per- 
sistently used, will entirely run out. Our farmers find, of late years, 
that wheat seeded in this way is soon overtaken by almost countless 
ills, and the practice now obtains of renewing crop every two or 



80 EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 

three years with seed obtained from a distance. Why should 
potatoes not do this same thing ? Ten years ago the White Mercer 
potato was the only variety cared for in this vicinity. Now you 
can hardly find one in the community; for although they are 
universally acknowledged to be unsurpassed in quality and flavor, 
they will not yield. A few j-ears ago the Buckeye, which is very 
little inferior to the White Mercer, was most prolific, and although 
I have found no reason to quarrel with it as yet,' the complaint 
is becoming general that it is following the example of its prede- 
cessor. Hence I find no difliculty in concurring in the prediction 
of Mr. White, that in a few years the Early Rose, now so much 
lauded, will in fact be "the last Rose of Summer," as well as the 
last one to be found in a farmer's cellar. 

Montgomery Co., Md. An IIonkst Farmer. 

CULTURE OF THE POTATO. 

Country Gentleman, February 11th, ISCO. 

Messrs. Editors: — Allow me to answer, through the columns of 
the Cultivator d- Country Gentleman, a correspondent who says he is 
a reader of your valuable journal, and obtains thereby much practical 
information, (fee. His questions call for much explicit information 
that may be of practical value to other inexperienced individuals 
who propose to commence farming as a business, and the replies 
nia}^ serve to call out further information and discussion which will 
be of practical value. After his introduction he says: 

' ' I am within thirty miles of Boston ; have some forty acres 
of light, sandy loam, that can be plowed very early in the Spring. 
1 propose, this year, to plant about ten acres with potatoes, and 
four or five with roots. Have eighty or ninety cords of manure on 
hand, and shall buy twenty to thirty more in the Spring. Also 
have a ton of bone dust and four hundred bushels of leached ashes. " 

He then commences his questions, concerning "potatoes" first, 
which I propose to insert and follow with my replies : 

1. What is the best early variety for market, and the two best 
late kinds? 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 81 

What would be the best for the Boston market might be of verj^ 
different value in any other market. The best way to get this 
(question solved, is to study the market you propose to trade in. 
I should try two or three of the most marketal)le varieties of earl}', 
sa}' Earl}' Goodrich, Sebec, and perhaps the Early Rose, after I had 
tested its qualit}-. For late, Jackson Whites or Oronos, Peach- 
blows, and try the Harison. 

2. In applying leached ashes with manure, how many bushels 
would you put on to the acre if broadcast, and how many if in 
drills? 

Appl}' the manure and ashes separate^ ; that is, plow down 
your manure, and apply your ashes either in the drill or as a top- 
dressing after the potatoes have broken ground. From forty to 
fifty bushels would make a fair top-dressing, the larger amount 
giving half a pint to a hill; this mode of application I prefer for 
the crop. An improvement would be made by adding one bushel 
of salt to twelve of ashes, mixing and letting lie a week or two 
before using, and a still greater advantage if to this two bushels 
of lime is added; in either case, one half the quantity would 
suffice. 

3. Which is the better way to apply it, in conjunction with the 
manure, broadcast or in the drills? Answered in 2. 

4. If in drills, is it better to strew it along and plant the potatoes 
on it, or to drop the potatoes first and then the ashes over or 
side of them? 

Put it only where the seed is to be dropped beside of, as 
it is the crop we are manuring, not the land. I never experienced 
any ill effects from having the ashes in contact with seed potatoes, 
when planted on dry soil. 

.5. In manuring with yard manure, is it better tc) put it on 

broadcast, if one has plent}- of it, or in the drills? Broadcast 

for potatoes. 

6. If broadcast, how much should be applied? 

6 



82 EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 

8ix to ten cords, although you may not get full pay for it in 
the first crop. 

7. If manured in the drills, will it cause the potatoes to rot 
if placed directly in contact with the manure? 

My experience, of late years, is unfavorable to manuring potatoes 
in the drill, where animal manure predominates, as it appears to 
injure the potatoes. Composted with muck — the muck largely 
predominating, and the manure well decayed — good results are 
obtained on sandy loams. 

8. How woidd it answer to open a furrow, drop the potatoes, 
tlien cover directly with three or four inches of manure ? 

See reply to 7. No bad eftects would result if the manure were 
a compost like that described. 

9. Would that injure the seed any? 

See foregoing. The vitality of the seed might not be allected. 

10. How much would the crop be increased to apply manure 
Ijroadcast, and in the drills also? Most of the land was in grass, 
and I did not obtain possession of it till the latter part of No- 
vonber. Had ten acres plowed immediately, but presume that it 
will not be rotted much by Spring. 

To answer this definitely would require an intimate knowledge 
of the soil to be cultivated, and a foreknowledge of the season 
and events. But, with judicious application and culture, we might 
reasonably look for from fifty to one hundred per cent, increase, 
unless the soil was in a high state of culture. 

11. If I cross-plow, harrow, and then plow again as soon as the 
frost is out of the ground, will it be in shape for early potatoes ? 

Too much of a good thing, my dear fellow ! Once plowing, and 
shallower than in the Fall, not to turn up the fresh, undecajed 
turf, is all the plowing necessary for your "light sandy loam," 
then a good harrowing, and it is read}^ If you apply your manure, 
spread and plow it under at the time of plowing in Spring. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGEICULTURAL PRESS. 



12. How will late potatoes succeed, planted in an orchard where 
tlie trees shade most of the ground? Soil is warm and in oood 
heart. 

13. If they will not succeed, what vegetable will do the best? 

Potatoes, as well as all other vegetables, require sun in order 
to develop a good crop. I should not expect much of a crop of 
any kind of vegetable in the shade of an orchard, as you describe, 
Iiut perhaps, if a favorable season, potatoes would do as well 
as any. 

14. What is the best way to plant, cut or whole tubers, and in 
liills or drills? 

My opinion has been expressed in former articles in the Country 
(rentleman, that whole tubers, in my experience, were the best, and 
good-sized sets from large, well-developed tubers the next, and that 
in planting I use a size next under the table size, if I have them; 
if not, cut sets from the table size. Hills, so far as I am expe- 
rienced, are preferable to drills, <listance govenied by size of growtli 
of tops. 

15. Is it an advantage to hill them much? 

The hill needs to be broad and flat, and elevated a few inches 
above the center, between the rows; not a sharp, conical hill, as 
I used to see when a boy. Such hills are not very advantageous 
now, as we grow potatoes. 

16. I have not enough storage room, and will the}^ keep well 
placed in heaps on the ground, covered eight or ten inches with 
meadow ha}^ and a foot of soil? 

If the ground is dry, and no surface water will collect around 
them, they will keep thus jDlaced, but I would give a heavier 
covering of soil, I have seen them come out fresh in Spring 
from being buried entirely beneath the surface, covered with a 
layer of straw, and over that some eighteen inches of earth, but 
the o-round was well drained and drv. 



84 EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 



17. AN^liat are the best times to plant earlj- and late potatoes? 

I have found, of late years, that the earlier I could get my 
potatoes planted in Spring, after the ground would work well or 
fair, and escape freezing or frosts after they were up, the better; 
say the latter part of April or early in May, general seasons. 

^y. H. White. 

A WORD FOR THE POTATO. 

Prairie Farmer, November 15th, 1868. 

While we have machines and inventions b^^ the thousand, by 
which muscular force has been lightened in almost every depart- 
ment of human industry, we are not advised that inventive genius 
has as yet been able to render us any material assistance in reducing 
the large amount of muscular force required to produce that im- 
portant article of food, the potato. We are aware that there are 
potato diggers, and potato cutters and droppers, but as yet they 
are not a very great success. 

The reason that the production of the potato is in a measure 
neglected by the farmer, is from the fact that it requires a great 
deal more labor to produce them than most any other article of 
food. Even though they should prove a ]"emunerative crop, they 
are still neglected, from that inherent tendency of man to shun 
labor. As the potato forms one of the three great staple crops 
that supply our food, we have made a calculation, as near as we 
could, of the amount of labor required to produce an acre of each 
kind, ready for market, not taking into consideration horseflesh or 
machinery. For the production of an acre of wheat, we make 
three days; corn, five; and potatoes, about twelve. Now these 
figures demonstrate the main reason, we think, why potato culture 
is comparatively neglected. Of course, there may be other auxili- 
aries, such as the liability of many varieties to rot, the fear of the 
potato bug, and the uncertainty of a crop in many localities. So 
when the day will come when we may be relieved by machiner}- of 
the excess of muscular force required to produce the potato, then 



EXTRACTS FEOM THE AGEICLLTUKAL FEES?. 85 

will the production of that most excellent and indispensable article 
of food rise to its true importance, and stand on an equality with 
the other great staples of the country. We can easily conceive 
that if we were compelled to go back to the primitive mode ot 
raising wheat, using the sickle and the fiail, the production of it 
would be nearly abandoned, or we would have to 'import chenp 
labor from China or elsewhere. But though it may take four 
times the i)hysical force to produce an acre of potatoes, in com- 
parison with wheat, yet we contend that in localities where they 
can be grown successfull}-, and where there is a market, they are 
much more profitable. To illustrate, we will make a calculation. 
An acre of potatoes, at a moderate yield, would give about one 
hundred and fifty bushels, and at fifty cents, would amount to 
!^75. 00; nine days' extra work over wheat, at ^l.oO per da^-, ^13.50. 
Now take this amount from the -ST 5, 00, and we have $G1.50. An 
acre of wheat, at moderate yield, twenty bushels, and at $1.75 per 
bushel, would amount to 835.00. So you see, after taking out the 
extra labor, potatoes are nearly twice as profitable as wheat; and 
also placing them at about the lowest figure they ever sell for. 
]\Iany times they go up to :§;1.00 and ^1.50 per bushel, whereas 
wheat scarcely ever goes over thirty per cent, above the figure on 
which we have made our calculation; so that the advantage is 
thrown still more in favor of the jiotato. 

AUoAV me to say a few words about a few varieties that have 
been tested in this locality. The potato is like the grape in respect 
to its local a(hi ptability. It will not do to pronounce a potato 
worthless because we read in our paper that it has been tried in 
some other State, and is worthless. Neither will it do to invest 
largely in a potato that we hear has done well in some other 
locality. The Early Goodrich is a potato that was introduced in 
this section about three years ago, and with high sounding praises 
and high prices, but it is a very low priced potato now, and is 
very inferior in quality; all we can say for it is that it yields well 
and is free from rot. The White Sprout had the run here several 



86 EXTRACTS FKOM THE AGKICULTUEAL PRESS. 

years before the Goodricli, and was only eaten because there was 
no better earl}^ potato to be had. It is about two weeks earlier 
than the Goodrich, j^ields well, rots badly, and in quality' is about 
on a par with the former. There is no early varietj^ of potato in 
this localit}- that is of first quality. The Mercer is a first quality 
potato as second early, but is not much raised, on account of its 
liability to rot. The Cuzco rots badly, and the Harison some, 
neither of them much of a success, and quality not good. The 
Shaker Russet yields well, but it is very inferior in quality. The 
Buckeye is considered a very fair potato, but the Peachblow takes 
the lead among potatoes as the Concord does among grapes. It 
is a potato for the whole country; its quality is excellent, and its 
extreme hardiness and its capacity to maintain its vitality' through 
the extreme dry and hot Summer months, make it the great 
favorite in this section. 

There is one fact that must not be overlooked, and that is, that 
with many varieties the quality of the potato depends to some 
extent on the time of planting or the size of the tubers, A very 
large potato is generally inferior in qualit^' to one of medium size 
of the same variet^^, and a round potato is the most desirable 
shape, as it will more evenly mature all its parts, and consequently 
is less liable to rot, whereas all long varieties, in many seasons, 
will not mature the end farthest from the stem, and consequentl}' 
will rot badl3\ We have all noticed that in some long varieties 
one end cannot be eaten, while the other is passable. AVe believe 
potatoes a i^rofitable crop if they do require hard digging; and 
that they will give a better return than corn or wheat, where 
rightly managed, we are satisfied. 

Lawrence, Nov. 2cl, 18G8. N. Camekok. 

EARLY ROSE POTATO-ITS HABIT, PRODUCT, MERITS. 

Country Gentleman, August loth, 18GS. 

Having noticed, in a late number of the Country Gentleman, an 
account of samples of the "Rose" potato sent you for trial, and 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURxVL PRESS. 87 

having obtained a peck of that variet}' with a view to test its 
merits thoroughly, I now beg leave to "report progress" on tlie 
"Rose." Believing your numerous readers will be interested in 
the result, I offer the following detailed report: 

After secui'ing my peck of the "Rose" at $5, the price rapidly 
ran up from $20 to |60, and even $80 per bushel, or |1 to $3 per 
pound. Such fabulous prices led most people to regard the "Rose" 
as a humbug, and the sellers thereof as imposters, and the pur- 
chasers at such prices as fools. 

When the price I paid at the time I bought, was named to some 
of my friends, they regarded me as infected with "potato on the 
brain;" but m}' confidence in the real value of the article was 
based on the statements of Mr. Heffron, of Utica. I therefore 
determined to give them a fair trial, and report the result, for 
the benefit of whom, it may concern. 

How I Treated the Seed. 

To obtain from them as many sets as possible, I split each 
potato lengthways, laid them on sand in shallow boxes, cut side 
down, covered them with fine sand an inch deep, kept in a warm 
place, applied warm water sutficient to keep damp, not loet The}' 
were ready to plant from the 15th to the 25th of April, according 
to the forwardness of the sprouts. 

They were planted on trenched ground — that is, the ground was 
trenched under each row, two forks wide and two forks dee}) — 
trenching performed so as to keep the good soil at the surface; 
rows three feet apart; plants set sixteen inches apart in the row. 

On setting the sprouts, they received a slight dressing of wood 
ashes, and then were covered with earth. On making their ap- 
pearance above ground, they received another slight dressing of 
ashes, and again after the first hoeing, making twelve quarts of 
ashes to each row of one hundred and eight feet in length. 

The peck of seed, by the method adopted, enabled me to cut 
nine hundred and twent}' sets, sufficient to plant eleven and a 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 



quarter rows of one hundred and eight feet each. The split 
potatoes laid on sand soon sprouted, so that I could see each 
eye distinctly. They were lifted out of the sand, and each eye 
cut off with a piece of the mother potato sufficient to support 
the sprout. These were removed to other shallow boxes, two 
or three inches deep, laid on sand close together, and covered 
with the same an inch to two inches deep. 

When the tops were six or eight inches high, the leaves were 
completely riddled by that garden pest, black fleas, and when 
about a foot high, fully one-tenth of the plants wilted down and 
dried up. At first I thought too much ashes had been applied, 
but on a close examination the decay proved to be caused by a 
grub worm attacking the stalk. As the vines died down, I dug 
them up, and was astonished to find from three to nine potatoes 
on each vine, in size from a pea to a hen's egg. 

Being invited to act as one of the judges on vegetables, at the 
Show of the State Agricultural Society of New Jersey, held on 
the 23d and 24th of June, I was astonished to find the Eai'ly Rose 
on exhibition. There were two plates of " Rose," (marketable 
size,) sent in by Mr. J. L. Conover, of Red Bank, N. J. They 
were planted on the 14th of April, and dug on the 2 2d of June, 
making sixty-nine daj's, counting in days of planting and digging, 
and that too in spite of the past very unfavorable Spring. 

The judges on vegetables thought the "Rose" well worth}- of 
notice, being a decided acquisition to our stock of early potatoes, 
and they therefore awarded a special premium of |5 to the grower. 
Subsequently I was invited to visit the crops of Earl}- Rose 
now being grown by the Messrs. Conover, of Red Bank, N. J., for 
Mr. Bliss, (seedsman) of New York cit}', and Mr. Best, of Utica, 
N. Y. On the grounds I found several gentlemen of the New 
York press, Mr. Heffron and Mi-. Best, of Utica, Messrs. Bliss & 
Son, of New York city, and a number of the friends and neighbors 
of the Messrs. Conover, who joined us in a careful examination 
of their several plats of "Rose" under cultivation. After a careful 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 89 

examination of the growth and habits of the "Rose," the number 
on a vine, their size and promising appearance, they arrived at 
the conchision that the product would be about one hundred 
l)arrels per acre. 

In this view I did not exactly concur, feeling satisfied the 
"Rose "would do better, and produced a statement made up the 
day I left home for New Jersey. To show a friend how they 
produced, I dug up a stalk with nine potatoes on it, and found 
they weighed two pounds and five ounces. I therefore concluded 
to dig five vines as they ran, count and weigh them, so as to 
be able to compare notes with the Ncav Jersey growers. The 
product was thirty-five potatoes, weight eight and one-half pounds, 
average one and three-fourths pounds to a vine. 

Now, owing to the smallness of the top, and the compact habit 
of the "Rose," they can be planted one foot apart in the row, 
rows three feet apart. This gives 14,520 sets to an acre; so that 
four bushels of seed, carefidly cut, one eye to a set, will plant an 
acre, which, at only one pound of potatoes from an eye, gives two 
hundred and forty-two bushels to the acre ; one and one-half pounds, 
three hundred and sixty-three bushels; and one and three-fourths 
pounds, four hundred and twenty-three bushels — sixty pounds to 
the bushel — the plants I dug and weighed producing at the latter 
rate. I expect the balance of mine to do even better, as they 
are growing yet; but when I gather the crop I will complete the 
report, showing the number of bushels obtained from a peck of 
"Rose" seed. The quality is fine, dry, and white, and fine grain 
with good flavor. 

I am satisfied that if the "Rose" is planted when the ground 
has become warm, say the 20th of April, in warm localities, that 
a good, marketable sized potato can be grown in sixty days. 
They are certainly two weeks earlier than the Goodrich. 

Staten Island, N. Y. J. C. Thompson. 



•90 EXTKACTS FROM THE AGKICULTURAT. PRESS. 

POTATO EXPERIMENTS. 

Rural New Yorker, April 17, 1869. 

There lias been a variety of opinions, with farmers, in regard 
to planting potatoes, some contending that they get a better 
3'ieid to plant whole ones ; others that it is best to cut them, and 
some will cut more than others, &c. Therefore, on the 26th day 
of May last, I thought that I would experiment a little in 
planting. I planted eight rows of twenty-six hills each. Soil a 
light gravel; varietj", Peachblow; yield in the Fall as follows: 

First row, seed ver^^ large, whole ones, one in a hill; product, 
merchantable ones, one hundred and six pounds; small, four 
pounds. Second row, seed very large, cut in two pieces, one 
piece in a hill; product, merchantable ones, ninety-six pounds; 
small, two pounds. Third row, seed medium sized, whole, one 
in a hill; product, merchantable ones, eighty-eight pounds; small, 
one and one-fourth pounds. Fourth row, seed medium sized, cut 
in three pieces, two pieces in a hill; product, merchantable ones, 
eighty-one pounds; small, one and one-half pounds. Fifth row, 
seed very small, whole, two in a hill; product, merchantable ones, 
sixty pounds ; small, four and one-half pounds. Sixth row, medium 
sized, cut in two pieces, one piece in a hill; product, merchant- 
able ones, seventy-nine pounds; small, one and one-half pounds. 
Seventh row, seed medium sized, cut once crosswise; seed end 
planted one in a hill; product, merchantable ones, seventy-four 
pounds; small, two and one-fourth pounds. Eighth row, seed 
medium sized, cut once crosswise; stem end planted, one piece in 
a hill; product, merchantable ones, sevent3--eiglit pounds; small, 
two pounds. 

The fore part of the season was quite dry, which somewhat 
accounts for the largest yield where the largest seed was planted, 
as the largest seed retains the most moisture. 

Kirtland, Lake Co., 0., 1869. H. P. Harmok. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 91 

CULTIVATING POTATOES. 

Eural New Yorker, June 12, ISiiy. 

The Staats Anzeiger, a paper of Northern Germany, gives some 
particulars of a new method of cultivating the potato, discovered 
by Guhlich, of Pinneburg, in Ilolstein, and which is said to have 
given surprising results wherever it was tried. The leading 
features of this new mode of culture are, 1. Turning up the soil 
to a considerable depth. 2. Choosing as seed, large, sound, and 
many-eyed potatoes. 3. Leaving each seed potato a space of 
twelve square feet. 4. Laying the seed potato with the budding- 
side down. By a report laid before the last meeting of the 
Frankfort Agricultural Society', the following results of experi- 
ments made in potato growing last year, are made known: 

In one morgen, (two-thirds of an acre,) which was planted witli 
eight metzen seed, and where each seed was left twelve square 
feet, the produce was one hundred and eight scheffels, (German 
bushels.) Another morgen, planted with twelve metzen, and 
when each seed potato had a space of nine square feet, j-ielded 
eighty-eight scheffels. A third morgen was planted with one 
scheffel of seed, each potato being left six square feet, and the 
produce was seventy-eight scheffels. The average crop obtained 
from seven to eight scheffels on the same land, was fifty to sixty 
scheff'els. The advantage claimed for Guhlich's s^-stem, is that it 
saves six or seven bushels of seed per morgen, and also increases 
the product from twenty-five to one hundred per cent. 

COLORADO POTATO BUG. 

Western Rural, July 8th, 1869. 

Numerous letters and specimens from Ionia and Kalamazoo 
counties show that the Colorado Potato Beetle, {Doryphora 10 
Uneata, Say) is coming in full force. This beetle (heretofore des- 
cribed) is about one-half inch long. Its wing covers are as broad as 
long. It is in color a light flesh hue, with ten black lines run- 
ning the full length of its wins cover. The larva? are reddish 



92 EXTRACTS FROM THE AGEICULTUEAL PEESS. 

with black dots on each side. In both larvte and imago states 
they relish the tender green of the fresh potato tops very much, 
and unless kept at bay will prove their ruin. 

Every farmer should see to it that the very first of these 
should be destroyed. As each female lays hundreds of eggs, they 
very soon spread to an alarming extent. Thus far hand-picking 
alone has been fully successful. Farmers be on the watch and 
give these little pests no foot hold. 

Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich. A. J. Cook. 

AFTER POTATO DICCING. 

American Agriculturist, August, 1869. 

The usual crop after potatoes is weeds, which have ample time 
to mature their seeds before frost comes, and to make trouble for 
man}^ years afterwards. Few farmers estimate the amount of 
damage done to their lands by this untimely seeding. We have 
seen land so stocked with charlock, Canada thistles, and other 
weeds, that the cost of all hoed crops upon it was fully doubled. 
Their presence depreciates the value of the oats and barley, and 
even of grass. No grain or grass seed fit to be sold can be 
raised upon it, and even the manure made from the feeding of 
such crops is less valuable b}^ reason of the foul seeds. Yet 
many farmers press right on stocking their land with weeds, as 
if they were a most valuable crop. The potatoes are dug and 
marketed in Jul}', or early August, and the ground lies waste for 
the rest of the season. If crops are not wanted, the opportunity 
should be improved to destroy weeds. Plow the land as soon as 
the potatoes are off. After ten days go over it with a harrow. 
This will destroy a second crop of weeds. In ten days more go 
over it with a brush harrow, which will destroy a third crop. In 
two weeks, follow with a harrow, and so on, until the frost comes 
in November. A second crop may be taken from the potato 
ground. If not in good heart, sow good superphosphate, or 
Peruvian guano, at the rate of 300 lbs. to the acre, on the old 



EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 93 

rovv's. Go over the rows once with a eiiltivatoi-. Sow turnip 
seed sparingl}- upon the fresh soil, and put them in with a light 
one-horse harrow or bush. When the turnips are up, cultivate 
between the rows, and keep these spaces free from weeds. The 
turnips will soon shade the ground, and prevent the growth of 
weeds in the rows. There are frequently three months or more 
between the earl}' potato harvest and the closing of the ground, 
and in this time a fine crop of white turnips may be grown 
at a cost of less than six cents a bushel. They are excel- 
lent for 3'oung cattle, and will assist materially in making beef 
and mutton. Sometimes the potatoes come oft" early enough for 
buckwheat or the winter grains. Tf manure is judiciously used, 
two crops in a season may be taken from the soil. 

POTATO CULTURE. 

Rural New Yorker, May 15, 18G9. 

"Rural," in Chicago Tribune, says: In answer to some inquiries 
on this head, it may be stated that to grow potatoes under straw 
the ground should be in fine condition, and the potatoes covered 
one or two inches deep with earth, and the surface rolled. Man}' 
experiments have been made in regard to the size of the seed 
used, but none of these have been altogether satisfactory and 
conclusive, and the most common practice is to plant in drills 
three feet apart, and eight to ten inches in the drill — one eye on 
the piece. A good practice is to drop the seed in ever}-- third 
furrow, and use a gauge wheel on the plow, so that it will not 
run over two to two and a half inches deep. Leave the land in 
that condition until the plants are nearly up, when the whole sur- 
face should be thoroughl}* harrowed and rolled. When two or 
three inches high, work with a two-horse cultivator, having on a 
shield, and turning the furrows towards the rows. A top dressing 
of manure will be found useful. In this mode of applying the 
manure, we need fear no bad effects from the rot. Repeated 
workings with the cultivator, until in bloom, are indispensable. 
After that period keep down the weeds with a double shovel-plow. 



94 EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTL"RAL PRESS. 

PLANTING POTATOES IN MARCH. 

American Agriculturist, March, ISGS. 

Potatoes planted in March are usually subject to cold weather, 
great dampness of soil, and a succession of checks before the 
sprouts reach the surface; and after this the 3'oung plant is liable 
to freezing, and thawing, and soaking, to which it is hardly fair 
to expose it. It is a grand thing to finish up potato planting 
early; and it is work which may frequentl}' be done when nothing 
else can be. If we use choice seed, and wish to make it go as 
far as possible, we are tempted to cut it in single eye pieces for 
planting. Doing this, with most varieties, we would be likely to 
lose half the seed, — perhaps more, early planted. It would be 
otherwise if the planting was to be done in May. Good sized 
pieces, or medium sized potatoes planted whole, are much the 
surest to give a good set if planted in March. The cutting 
should always be done several daj's before planting, and the heap 
turned over, or spread thin to dry somewhat. An incrustation 
of the starch and juices of the tuber, called healing, takes i^lace, 
which defends the piece against decay. The best results are ob- 
tained in planting the potatoes about three inches deep, in drills, 
on dry, gravelly loam. 

POTATOES ON SOD GROUND. 

American Agriculturist, December, 18(38. 

"H. P. H," Vinton, Ohio. "I want to plant potatoes next 
Spring in sod ground, where sheep have been fed for two or three 
winters. When is the best time to plow, and how wide should 
the ground be marked? Should it be one or both ways? How 
often should the ground be plowed, and how often should the 
potatoes be hoed ? How should they be cut, and how man}^ pieces 
in the hill?" — A good clover sod is one of the best j^reparations 
for potatoes. Any tougher sod is good to make a crop, and to 
guard against rot. The objection to it is the difficulty in getting 
the sod mellow enough for easy working. If plowed in August 
or September, the sod rots well. If plowed in the Spring, it 



EXTKACTS FROM THE AGKICULTURAL IIEESS. 95 

should be done deep enongli to admit of cross-plowing without 
disturbing the sod. Harrow very thoroughly. Mark out the rows 
both ways thirty inches apart. Bush harrow just before the po- 
tatoes are up, to kill weeds. Start the cultivator or Share's 
harrow, a week or ten da3-s later, going as near the potatoes as 
possible, and stirring all the surface soil. If the tops have a 
light covering of dirt, it will not harm them. Cultivate them 
the second time the other way of the rows. Two or three eyes 
to the hill are enough. Go through the potatoes a third time, to 
pull weeds. This often makes a difference of twenty-five per cent, 
in the yield. If the ground is made smooth and mellow, the hoe 
will hardly be needed. The advantage of hills over drills is that 
nearly all the weeds can be reached with the cultivator, and the 
expense of hand-hoeing be saved. If the land is very rough and 
full of sods, the hoe must be used. Unless planted very early, 
cut into pieces with one or two eyes. 

RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO CULTURE. 

Country Gentlemau, October 29, 18GS. 

Editors Country Gentleman: — I have just completed my sec- 
ond experiment with assorted seed potatoes. They were Harisons, 
planted May 12th, on clay land, a heavily top dressed clover lay 
broken up in April ten inches deep — was very wet after planting, 
and dry at setting time, but with plentj'' of rain before the vines 
died to secure a fair crop of all late varieties. 

The rows were three feet apart, and twenty-two and one-fourth 
rods long, and very even in quality. 

No. 1 was planted with whole seed as near the size of hulled 
walnuts as I could get them; was drilled with fourteen pounds 
seed, equal to nine and one-fifth bushels per acre — produced five 
and one-half bushels, equal to two hundred and seventeen and one- 
half bushels per acre. 

No. 2 was planted with cut seed, two and three eyes to each 
set, from selected, fair sized potatoes, drilled same as No. 1, with 



96 



EXTRACTS FEOM THE AGIIICULTUEAL 



002 685 467 2 



tweuty-oiie pounds seed — thirteen and one-half bushels per acre — 
produced six and twent3'-one sixtieth bushels, equal to two-hun- 
dred and fift3'-four and one-fifth bushels per acre. 

No. 3 was planted with large size, selected potatoes, drilled, 
but farther apart than Nos. 1 and 2, with fortj'-eight pounds of 
seed, equal to thirty-one and one-third bushels per per acre — pro- 
duced six and fort^'-sixtieth bushels, equal to two hundred and 
sixty-three and twenty-sixtieth bushels per acre. 

No. 4 was planted, with halves of same selection as No. 3, and 
twenty-seven pounds of seed — seventeen and four-fifth bushels seed 
per acre — produced six and thirty-sixtieth bushels, or two-hundred 
and fift3'-seven and five-sixtieth per acre; planted same distance 
as No. 3, and contained the largest proportion of salable produce, 
with No. 2 next, with about equal proportions of large in Nos. 1 
and 3. 

This, after last season's experiment, would induce me to cut 
good salable potatoes for seed in preference to using them whole, 
and, in times of scarcity, to use small seed, with care not to get 
them too crowded. 

Springfield, Ohio. J. T. Warder. 




The largest, best and cheapest Paper of its class is 

upal Sew- Worker 






BY D. D. T. MOORE, NEW YORK CITY, AND ROCHESTER, N. Y. 



•VOLTJIMIE XXI, IFOI^ 1870, 

Of Moore's Rural New Yorker will Excel in all the leading essentials and characteristics of a 
First-class, Wide-awake and Progressive Rural, Literary, Family and Business Newspaper, 
combined — making it, more than ever before, the 

isr.A.:poi-iE02sr insr its siphzek^ei 

ce its great Enlargement and Improvement in January last, the Rural has vastly increased 
rculation and usefulness, and now has subscribers and admirers in every State and Territory 
e Union, Canada, &c. Superior in Ability, Value and Variety of Contents, and also in Size, 
^ie, Illustrations, &c., Moore's Rural is pronounced, by both Press and People, 

THE BEST WEEKLY ON THE OOITTINENT! 

Being Ably and Carefully Edited, Illustrated and Printed in Extra Style, and Adapted to Coun- 
try, Village and City, an Exchange truly says of it that " The Rural is the tnost Elegantly Printed, 
Widely Circulated, and Heartily Welcomed Paper, as a whole, which now finds its way among the Peo- 
ple.^' Indeed, the Rural is the 

FAVORITE FARM AND FIRESIDE JOURNAL OF AMERICA, 

And amply Pays all who cultivate Fruits, Flowers, Vegetables, &c., even on a small scale, (in City, 
Village or Suburb,) while to Farmers, Planters, Horticulturists, Stock Breeders, Wool Growers, 
Dairymen, Poultry Fanciers, Ac, it is INDISPENSABLE. In the FAMILY it is highly regarded, 
its Literary and Miscellaneous Departments furnishing CHOICE AND ENTERTAINING READ- 
ING FOR ALL. 

THE RURAL EMPLOYS THE BEST TALENT 

Tn the Land — has Nine Able Editors, and Hundreds of Special Contributors and Correspondents. 
Its Reports of the Markets, Crops, Weather, Ac, are full and reliable. 

The Rural is the Largest Illustrated Paper! 

Sixteen Double Quarto Pages of Five Columns Each! 

The Paper for Yourself, Your Family and Friends ! 

The Rural is not a IMonthly, but the LARGEST, BEST AND CHEAPEST ILLUSTRATED 
WEEKLY— and, though double its formersize, and greatly improved, ITS SUBSCRIPTION PRICE 
'IS UNCHANGED. 



B'ORM, STYLK ^NID TERMS. 

DmmrfoifART^'^pWvt P">"f^^^ >° Superior Style each Number comprising Sixteen Large 
Double-Quarto Pages (eighty columns, Finely Illustrated and Neatly Printed. Title Page, 
Index, Ac, at the close of Volume ^ j-mc ^ ,igc, 

TEJtMS.—Only $3.00 a Year ,- $2.50 in Clubs of Ten. 

IsTO'W^ IS THE TinyCE TO STJBSCI^T:B:E T 

All who form Clubs will be Liberally Rewarded— receive " Good Pay for Doing Good." Our Pre- 
mium List includes One Hundred and Fifteen Ornamental. Useful aiul Valuable Articles, ranging in 
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Ac, without charge. Address 

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I® ^f) 
Nos. 41 PAKE ROW and 151 NASSAU STREET, NEW-YORK, 

(Late Office of the American Agriculturist,) 

IMPORTERS AND DEALERS IN 

Garden, Field and Flower Seeds, 

DUTCH BULBOUS ROOTS, SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS, 
Fertilizers, and other Requisites for the Farm and Garden, 

HARDY AND EXOTIC GRAPEVINES, SMALL FRUITS, &c. 



Put up or the trade in packets for retailing, in boxes containing all the leading varieties, from to 
to $50 each. 

The following CATALOGUES are published during the year, and will be mailed to all applicants 
upon receiptof priee : 

No. 1— Seed Catalogue and Guide to the Flower and Kitchen Garden, published 
in January. Sixteenth Annual Edition, enlarged and improved. Profusely illustrated with fine en- 
gravings of the choicest varieties of FLOWEKS and VEGETABLES, also a splendid colored litho- 
graph, and a Descriptive List of about Twenty-five Hundred varieties of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, 
with explicit directions for their culture, and much other information upon the subject of Garden- 
ing generally, which will he found useful to the experienced amateur as well as those about to en- 
gage in the delightful occupation of gardening. Price 25 cents. 

No. 2 — Bulb Catalogue, (illustrated,) published September 1st, containing a choice collection 
of i)o«6/f and Single Hyacinths, arranged in their several colors; Tulips, in many varieties, both 
Double and Single ; Polyanthus Narcissus, Crown Imperials, Jonquils, Snow Drops, Lilies, dx. Price 
10 cents. 

No. 3— Abridged Catalogue and Gardener's Almanac combined, with monthly 
/>^j> Ciili^ndar of operations. For gratuitous distribution. Will be mailed to all applicants upon 
r^' -r receipt of a three cent stamp. Addres 

>^lv B. K. BLISS & SON, Bo\ 5712, New York 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



DDDEt.a5Ht)72 



